LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




\ 



SUGAR 

n new and Profitabk Tndustry 

IN THE UNITED STATES 

Tor Capital, JIdriculture ana Cabor 



-TO SUPPLY THE- 



HOME MARKET YEARLY WITH 
$100,000,000 OF ITS PRODUCT,., 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY OF AMERICA 

Its Past, Present and Future. How to enable our own people to produce all they consume, and 

thus put into their own pockets the vast sums now sent abroad annually to pay for 

imported sugar. A practical aid toward relieving agricultural depression, by 

affording hundreds of extensive home markets for thousands of 

acres of sugar beets and cane. 

THE WHOLE SUGAR SITUATION 

Comprehensively discussed, with illustrated descriptions of all cultural and factory processes, 

an index to the American sugar trade, and a directory of many localities that offer 

exceptional inducements to capital to embark in beet sugar and cane sugar. 

The plan of campaign of the American Sugar Growers' Society. 



BY HERBERT MYRICK 



mi 
Orange 3udd e«mpanv 



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new Vork and Cbicaao \'\\'^\ 



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Extra Number American Agriculturist, New York, and Orange Judd Farmer, Chicago 






Copyright, 1897, 
By orange JUDD COMPANY. 



OUTLINE OF THIS WORK. 



Author.— HERBERT MYRICK, editor American Agriculturist, Orange Judd 
Farmer, New England Homestead, Farm and Home; author (jointly with Col J. 
B. Killebrew) of "Leaf Tobacco: Its Culture and Cure, Marketing and Manufac- 
ture ;"also of "How to Co-operate, " etc, etc. ; President Orange Judd Company, 
Treasurer American Sugar Growers' Society, etc, etc. Assisted by PROF W. C. 
STUBBS, director Louisiana Sugar Experiment Station, by various directors of 
State Agricultural Experiment Stations, and by numerous practical experts in the 
culture of sugar beets on a successful commercial scale. Embodying also the 
results of all work upon this subject by the United States Department of Agricul- 
ture. 

Character.— IX GENERAL, the book aims to give an account of what has been done 
in the Beet and Cane sugar industry, just how it has been done, with reliable 
directions from actual recent experience under American conditions, that make it 
a guide to the farmer, capitalist, and others now or likely to be interested in any 
way in the sugar industry. Yet it is not blind to the fact that there is much to 
learn in this matter under American conditions. 

Illustrated with over 100 ENGRAVINGS, mostly from photographs taken especially 
for this work, of beet sugar factory interiors and exteriors, cane sugarhouses, im- 
plements, etc., with maps showing the present conditions and possibilities of 
American sugar industry. 

Part One.-THE AMERICAN SUGAR INDUSTRY'' IN ITS ECONOMIC ASPECTS 
—The farmer, the tariff and the sugar industry— Imports of sugar into United States 
— An economic crime— How competition of foreign sugar has grown— Present 
and future competition in sugar— Injustice of the Hawaiian treaty— The world's 
production of sugar— What ,of the United States— American farmers' demands- 
Can this country produce its own sugar?— Will the United States produce its own 
sugar?— Time necessary— The risk to capital— What stands in the way of the 
American sugar industry?— What is needed— Amount of protection required— Duty 
on sugar in the United States and other countries— Will protection enhance the 
price of sugar to consumers?— Why has not the American sugar industry developed 
more rapidly?— Farmers now mean business— American Sugar Growers' Society, 
its objects, plan of work and preliminary organization. 

Part Two.-THE CANE SUGAR INDUSTRY— The area capable of growing sugar 
cane— Peculiarity of the crop— Present obstacles to the cane industry— The great 

VII 



trouble in the sugar-cane industry — The soil adapted to sugar cane — How the soil 

IS usually prepared— Culture— Harvesting— Rotation of crops— How to start the 

cane-sugar industry— Description of manufacture— Quality and grades of the 
product. 

Part Three.-THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY IN AMERICA. 

CHAPTER I. -WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES 
—Failure of early attempts — An exception— Honor to whom honor is due — Recent 
development— The record in brief — What of the future— Elementary principles- 
Technical terms explained— Quality of the beet sugar— How beet sugar is made. 

CHAPTER II.— HOW THE INDUSTRY HAS GROWN IN EACH STATE— Califor- 
nia, the Spreckels enterprise at Watsonville — Alvarado's persistent fight and final 
triumph — The marvellous results at Cliino — The new factories in California — Ne- 
braska's trying experience and ultimate success — Wonderful results in Utah — In the 
Pecos Valley of New Mexico — The new factory in Wisconsin — Scientific and i>rac- 
tical tests to demonstrate the adaptability of the sugar beet to conditions in the 
other States, including results of the 189(5 cyo\\ 

CHAPTER III.— CULTURE OF THE SUGAR BEET— Climatic Conditions— Varie- 
ties of beets — Soils for the sugar beet — Rotation of crops — Feeding the plant — 
Plowing— More about subsoiling— Preparation of seed bed— Seeding— Hoeing— 
Thinning out— Irrigation— Harvesting— Storing beets— Feeding and storing beet 
pulp, tops and molasses. 

CHAPTER IV.-COMMERCIAL ASPECTS OF THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY 
— Cost and profit^ of beet culture — Actual recent experience of practical farmers 
in raising beets on a large and small scale — How the industry employs and pays 
labor— Its manifold advantages— The brilliant promise to capital, provided the 
American market is reserved for American sugar — How to start a sugar factory, its 
location, requirements, equipment, management, etc — Cautions to all new to the 
industry. 

Miscellaneous. — APPENDIX — A directory of some of the many communities that 
want beet sugar factories— Announcements of sugar engineers, contractors for 
sugar factory equipments, refining outfitters, seed dealers, beet lands, etc. 



VIII 



The Sugar Industry. 



PART ONE. 



THE ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF SUGAR. 

THE FAKMER, THE TARIFF AND THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

It required every pound of the wheat and flour exported by the United States 
during the fiscal year 1896 to pay for the sugar imported.* The total value of all live 
and dressed beef, beef products and lard exported during the jtast year barely equaled 
the amount paid for imported sugar. Our immense export trade in cotton represents 
in value only twice as much as our import of sugar. Our vast exports of tobacco must 
be magnified thrice to counterbalance sugar imports. The bai'ley, oats and rye, fruits 
and nuts, hops, vegetable oils, oleomargarine, butter and cheese, pork and hams that 
were exported last year all put together repx'esent in value only two-thirds of the 
sugar imported. 

IT IS AN ECONOMIC CRIME 

to compel American farmers to raise staples in competition with the cheap-land-and- 
Jabor countries, with which to pay for imported sugar, besides standing the freight 
and commission both ways. No wonder agriculture is depressed, for not only are 
American farmers deprived of the home market for 100 million dollars' worth of sugar 
annually, but imports of other produce that can be grown within our borders average 



* Table A. — imports of sugar into the united states. 

Exjiressed in millions of pounds. 

Countries from which ' Calendar year ended Dec. 31. ^ — Fiscal year ended — . 

imported. 1879 1894 June ;S0, 1896. 

Cuba, etc., l,.3t;o,()oo,nno Total 2,203,non,ono Total 986,onn,ono Total 

West Indies, Mexico, etc., 117,000,000 302,000,000 546,000,000 

Central America, 1,477,000,000 3,.'>65,000,000 1,532,000,000 

Brazil. 03.000,000 258,000,000 191,000,000 

Other South American, 19,000,000 147,000.000 164,000,000 

South America, 83,000,000 405,000,000 355,000,000 

Hawaii, 42,000,000 325,000.000 3,52,000,000 

East Indies, 107,000,000 420,000,000 701,000,000 

Oceanica, 309,000,000 745,000,000 1,053,000.000 

oEurope, 7,000,000 554,000,000 629,000,000 

Other countries, 8,000,000 16.000,000 137.000.000 

Total, 1,783.000,000 4,386,000,000 3.706,000,000 

rt Includes for 1894, from Germany 355 million pounds. United Kingdom 49, Netherlands 12, France 

14, Austria Hungary 44 and Belgium 80 million jiounds. 

rt Includes for "l896, from Germany 450 millioi\ pounds. United Kingdom 37. Netherlands 7, Austria- 
Hungary 40, and Belgium 72, other Europe 21 million pounds. 



2 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



120 million dollars per year more— wool, hides, cotton, tobacco, vegetables, breadstuffs, 
dairy produce, fruits and nuts, hops, hay, oils, rice, flaxseed, bristles, bark, sumach, 
chicory, eggs, hair, etc. Add imports of manufactures of hides, wool and cotton, 
most of which could be made in this country from domestic produce, and we have a 
total of nearly 300 million dollars a year, of which American farmers could, should 
and must have a larger share without necessarily curtailing their exports of farm 
products. Some officials wax jubilant over agricultural exports of 570 millions, appar- 
ently blind to the fact that fully half of these exports are required to pay for farm 
imports, exclusive of tea, coffee, and similar articles not now produced within our 
borders. Payments for these imports of raw produce and manufactures of them 
during the past six years have been If billions of dollars — twice as much as the entire 
interest -bearing national debt. 



PRESENT AND FUTURE COMPETITION IN SUGAR. 

The astonishing changes in the world's sugar situation during the past two years 
are revealed in Table B.* It will be seen that in spite of the almost annihilation of 



* Table B — more recent imports of sugar into the united states— with the 

QUANTITIES AND VALUES FOR THE ELEVEN MONTHS ENDED NOV. 30, 1S96, COM- 
PARED WITH LIKE PERIOD FOR 1895. 



Not above No. IC, Dutch standard. 

Beet snpar, duty, 

Cane and other (under reciprocity treaty with 

Hawaiian Islands) free, 
Cane sugar, duty, 

Above No. 16, Dutcli standard. 
Beet, cane and other, duty, 



SUMMAKY. 

Pounds. 
1895. 
197,518,466 

287,241,215 
2,829,002,221 

83,591,941 



Values. 

Si3,488,811 



7,603,108 
52,791,998 



2,144,451 



Total sugar. 



free, 287,241,215 $7,603,108 

duty, 3,110,112,628 58,425,260 

IMPORTS IN DETAIL— FROM EUROPE. 



Under No. 16, Dutch standard. 

United Kingdom, 

Austria-Hungary, 

Belgium, 

Germany, 

Netherlands, 

Other Europe, 

British Nortli America, 



Pounds. 

1895. 

11,726,.525 

5,021.834 

17,077.297 

167,085,525 

4,780,704 

5,569 

24.047,044 



Values. 

$223,296 

89,650 

292,119 

2,973,033 

75,652 

345 

506,594 



Pounds. 

1896. 
996,882,058 

427,597,959 
2,314,671,164 

184,999,206 

427,519,959 
3,496,552,428 



Pounds. 

1896. 

34,817,129 

54,919,481 

83,874,887 

814,792,974 

7,300,662 

21,437,146 

1,096,522 



Total, 



239,744,498 !S4,160,689 1,018,338,801 



FROM "COUNTRIES TO THE SOUTH OF US.' 

Under No. IG, Dutch Standard. Pounds. Values. 

1895. 

Central American States, 714,370 $9,087 

Mexico, 2,704,791 35,753 

British West Indies, 160,802,007 2,921,691 

Cuba, 1,816,940,204 35,013,065 

Other West Indies, 162,002,834 2,807,100 
Brazil, 

Other South America, 106,501,000 2,281,172 



Pounds. 
1896. 

4,422,609 
252,00s,003 
415,344.400 
342,630,730 
159,163,682 
168,847,657 



Total, 



3,249,605.306 *43,067,868 1,343,507,081 
FROM THE "CHEAP LABOR" COUNTRIES OF THE ORIENT. 



Under No. 16, Dutch standard. 

China, 
East Indies, 
Hawaiian Islands, 
Philippine Islands, 
Other Asia and Oceanica, 
Other countries, 
Africa, 

Total, 



Pounds. 

1895. 

709,376 

301,010,479 

287,241,215 

75,832,592 

56,243 

148,012,975 

21,480,318 



Values. 

$15,334 
5,583,094 
7,603,108 
1,052,804 
926 
1,989,339 

410.755 



Pounds. 

1896. 

368,389 

662,182,292 

427,519,959 

127,013.996 

31,021,036 

475 

130,221,152 



Values. 
$21,664,611 

14,395,266 
51,159,954 

5,285,145 

$14,395,266 
78,109,710 

Values. 

$818,717 

1,224,043 

1,974,567 

17,505,183 

156,592 

489„532 

87,902 

$33,356,536 

Values. 



877,482 
5,435.206 
10,100,120 
7,757,586 
3,286,460 
3,716,369 

»31,073,333 

Values. 

$7,833 
14.061,184 
14,395,210 
2,161,762 
823,692 
14 
3.140,325 



834,353,198 »16,655,360 1,378,337,399 »34,590,02O 



ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF SUGAR. $ 

the industry in Cuba, total imports of sugar into the United States in 1806 were even 
moi-e than in the previous year. 

Still more remarkable is the fact that imports from Europe for '90 were five times 
as much as during the previous year. For the calendar year 1896 the United States 
paid Europe over §25,000,000 for sugar. All but a fraction of this was from sugar 
beets grown in Europe and worked into sugar at European factories, the shipment of 
which to this country was stimulated by export bounties. If Europe can make suck 
an increase in one year, what may she not accomplish within the next five years, if the 
American market continues at her mercy? 

Quite as momentous is the enormous increase during the past year in imports of 
sugar from the Orient. This sugar is largely grown by the coolie labor of China, the 
East Indies, the Thilippines and Oceanica, or the fellah labor of Africa. English 
operators of Egyptian sugar plantations worked by fellahs for a few cents a day were 
paid over $3,000,000 for their sugar shipped to the United States last year, or eight 
times as much as the year previous. The increase from the coolie-grown product of 
the East Indies, and from the debased labor of the Philippine Islands, is equally as 
great. Unless protected against the yellow labor of the East, it is a question whether 
its manipulation of the sugar cane will yet crowd to the rear the forceful European 
beet-sugar industry. 

Imports of cane sugar from "the countries to the south of us" show a decided 
falling off. In spite of the Cuban war. it is a matter of common notoriety that the 
competition of European beet sugars has so usurped the sugar markets of the world 
that the industry is no longer profitable under even the most favored natural condi- 
tions in British West Indies, and Her Majesty's government is now seeking some 
means of remedying the difliculty. Mr Gladstone and other British free-traders are 
outspoken against the German export bounty. 

THE SANDAVICII ISLAND INJUSTICE, 

But the worst and most inexcusable phase of the sugar situation is the unjust, 
unfair, illegal, and unbusiness-like competition of sugar from the Hawaiian Islands. 
This sugar is admitted free under the reciprocity treaty which has been in effect with 
the Sandwich Islands since 1876. In the following twenty years, the United States 
sent to the Islands only $56,000,000 worth of exports, while we imported from the 
Islands $140,000,000 worth of sugar. The Islands have thus made $84,000,000 at the 
expense of the United States. The duties remitted on Hawaiian sugar since 1876^ 
now amount to over $61,000,000. In other words, this government has allowed the- 
Sandwich Islands over $61,000,000 in bounties to develop their cane-sugar industry at 
the expense of American farmers and to the loss of the federal revenues. Contract 
coolie labor is employed to raise this cane. 

THE world's PRODUCTION OF SUGAR. 

It is now two-thirds larger than ten years ago. Production and consumption are 
increasing between 6 and 7 per cent per annum. Thus the industry is doubling itself 
every fifteen years. Beet sugar was an insignificant quantity until within quite recent 
years. But look at its gain lately : 

World's production. Tons of 2240 pounds. Gain per cent. 

1884 1894 

Beet snsar, 2,fi90.000 4,790,000 78 

Cane sugar, 3,180,000 3,080,000 41 



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6 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Thus the beet has gained twice as fast as the cane. The beet-root sugar grown in 
the temperate regions of Europe, and even as far north as cold Sweden, has, with the 
aid of the chemist and of tlie skilled manufacturer, overtaken and surpassed the cane 
of the tropics. The development has not been even, but its enormous proportions are 
manifest fj-om this comparison : 

DEVELOPMEMT OF THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY IN EUROPE. 



Production (tons of 2240 pounds) 


ISU 


1894 


Gain per cent. 


Austria-Hungary, 


653,000 


1,050,000 


01 


Germany, 


1,147.000 


1,800,000 


rii 


France, 


303,000 


814,000 


163 


BeUTinni, 


116,000 


230,000 


99 


Holland, 


48,000 


90,000 


88 


Russia, 


406.000 


600,000 


48 


Other European countries, 


18,000 


108.000 


.500 



Total European sugar production (beet), 2,691,000 



4,792,000 



AVHAT OF THE UNITED STATES. 

Now, while these countries have been getting rich by growing sugar for the 
American market, our domestic sugar industry has been languishing, except for a 
brief spurt under the McKinley law, which was not in operation long enough for its 
influence to be fully exerted in the development of the American sugar industry. 
Here is a table which brings out the facts on these latter points : 



Table C. — the sugar trade of the united states. 

Tlie figures for domestic production are from Willett & Gray's Sugar Statistical, tlie acknowledged 
authority, and were especially compiled l)y tliem for this work. The domestic crop each year is manu- 
factured into sugar between August and February of the succeeding year. Hence, the figures are for 
the crop grown in the first year named in the first column, while the imports are for tlie fiscal year 
■ended the June 30 following. Adding the domestic production and imports gives the total supply of 
sugar, from which the consumption per capita is estimated. Tlie wholesale value of imported sugar is 
given as reported by tlie United States treasury department, whose official figures of quantities of 
imports are also used. The average value per iiound of " fair refining" sugar each year is given in the 
last column. This, multiplied by the pounds of domestic sugar produced, gives the esvimated whole- 
sale value of the American product, though the figures are probably too high. This, added to the value 
of imported sugar, gives the total wholesale value of the sugar consumed in the United States each 

year. 

[In long tons of 2240 pounds, as used in the sugar trade.] 

U. S. Con- 
Domestic Production. Imports. Total, gumption. "Wholesale Value. Value. 



Fiscal 
Tears. 
July 1 to 
June 30. 

1880-81 
1881-82 
1882-83 
1883-84 
1884-85 
1885-86 
1886-87 
1887-88 
1888-89 
1889-90 
1890-91 
1891-92 
1892-93 
1893-94 
1894-95 
1895-96 
1896-97 



Cane. 
Tons. 

92,802 
127,367 

76,373 
142,297 
135,243 
100,876 
135,158 

85,394 
167,814 
153,909 
1,36,503 
221,951 
105,437 
235,886 
271, .336 
324,506 
243.220 



Beet. 
Tons. 

500 

500 

500 

535 

953 

600 

800 

255 

1,910 

2,600 

2,800 

5,359 

12,091 

20,453 

20,443 

30,000 

40.000 



Total. Foreign sugar. Supply. Per capita. Imp. Dom. 



Total. Average. 



Tons. 

93,302 
127,867 

76,873 
142,8.32 
13<;,196 
101,476 
135,958 

85,649 
169,724 
156,509 
139,303 
227,310 
177,528 
256,.339 
291,889 
354,506 
283.220 



Tons. 

869,082 
888,416 
951,316 
1,2,30„'J43 
1.213..341 
1,200.840 
1.400.108 
1,205.4S4 
1,233,122 
1,.309,822 
1,555,123 
1,587,728 
1,486,6.56 
1,939,818 
1.. 595,808 
1,739,313 



Tons. 

962,384 
1,01(;,283 
1,031,189 
1,373,375 
1,349,537 
1,.302,.316 
1.. 536,066 
1,291,133 
1,402,846 
1,466,331 
1,694,426 
1,815,038 
1,064,184 
2,196,157 
1,887,697 
2,093,819 



Pounds. Million dollars. Dollars. Per lb. 



44 
48 
51 
51 
52 
53 
53 
57 
53 
53 
66 
64 
64 
67 
64 
63 
? 



83.4 
84.4 
84.3 
98.3 
72.6 
80.8 
78.5 
74.3 
88.6 
96.2 
95.1 
104.1 
116.2 
126.7 
75.0 
89.2 



15.8 
21.8 
12.5 
21.5 
16.1 
11.4 
14.9 
9.0 
19.2 
20.1 
15.7 
17.2 
11.2 
18.4 
16.9 
23.2 
20.0 



$!99,200,000 
106,200,000 
96,800.000 
119,800,000 
88.700,000 
92,200,000 
93,400,000 
83,300.000 
107,800,000 
116,300.000 
110,800.000 
121 ,,300,000 
127.400,000 
135,100,000 
91,000,000 
102,400,000 



7.58 
7.62 
7.25 
6.76 
5.27 
5.02 
4.88 
4.70 
5.05 
5.73 
5.01 
3.37 
2.81 
3.20 
2.60 
2.92 
3.16 



Totals, 2,816,072 140,299 2,950,481 21,409,520 25,182,649 



1447.7 284.9 1,692,600,000 



It appears from this table that in the sixteen years, 1880 to 1895 inclusive, the 
United States produced 2,673, 000 long tons of sugar, or just about one-tenth of the 



ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF SUGAR. 7 

total consumption during this period. The table also shows that not only did the 
total consumption of sugar double in less than sixteen years, but the per capita con- 
sumption inci-eased fully one-half during the same time. 

It also appears that the United State paid out for imported sugar during these 
16 years almost $1,500,000,000. If the imports of molasses, etc, were included and ex- 
ports of saccharine deducted, the figures would show fully this amount. In other 
words, this country has paid out an average of just about $100,000,000 per year for 
sugar for nearly two decades, in the face of the steadily declining values of sugar 
indicated in the last column. Still more startling is the fact that our per capita 
consumption, around 65 pounds annually, is two and three times as much as the 
consumption in Germany, France and other sugar-producing countries. 

THE AMERICAN FARMERS DEMAND 

a fair chance to produce everything our people consume that can be grown in the 
United States. They want to begin with sugar, both cane and beet. Why? Because 
with reasonable protection and factories to work up these crops, sugar cane and sugar 
beets promise to afford farmers the new source of reasonable profits that are impera- 
tively required to help relieve agricultural depression. Sugar beets at $4 to $5 per 
ton, or cane at corresponding prices, are fairly profitable crops compared to cereals, 
potatoes, tobacco, cotton, etc. 

An acre of corn at the west, yielding 40 bushels of grain worth 15c per bushel, 
will buy something more than 100 lbs of granulated sugar at the grocery store. That 
same acre of land devoted to sugar beets will produce 2000 to 3000 lbs of refined sugar, 
like the finest white sugar you can buy. The corn under such conditions returns 
about $6 per acre for all the labor and capital invested in that crop. Sugar beets 
yield $25 to $50 per acre, and while they require far more labor, they pay for it ?nd 
leave a net profit of $10 to $25 per acre, which is handsome compared to the meager 
returns from corn, wheat, oats, etc. 

SUGAR AND THE MONETARY PROBLEM. 

The country has been convulsed over the proposition of free silver coinage at 16 
to 1. The most ardent advocates of that policy have not proposed to coin more than 
100,000,000 silver dollars per year. Now without discussing the pros and cons of the 
silver question, no one will deny the benefits that would accrue by keeping at home 
the 100,000,000 of (gold standard) dollars that are sent out of the country each year 
for sugar. If this sugar is all paid for in money (instead of partly in merchandise), 
keeping at home this vast sum would inflate our per capita circulation nearly $1.50 
each year, or $15 in ten years, and in 15 years it would double our present per capita 
circulation. Certainly ic would help to solve the currency problem to keep at home 
the money that now goes abroad for sugar. 

CAN THIS COUNTRY PRODUCE ITS OWN SUGAR? 

There is no longer any doubt about it. The sugar beet can be grown over a large 
part of the United States, and in some sections attains a perfection never approached 
in other countries. 

The sugar cane is adapted to a far larger area than has been generally supposed. 

The maps forming the frontispieces to this book show the probable possible dis- 
tribution of these commercial crops. The lines on the map No 8 are based on the 



b THE SUGAK INDUSTRY. 

latest and best practical experience. It is not denied that either of these sugar crops 
will succeed better in certain localities and climates, upon certain soils, fertilizers, 
ate, than under other conditions. The regions that offer the best natural and artili- 
cial advantages lor the industry are to be carefully ascertained, but they will be found 
within the the spaces indicated on our map. Chart No 1 shows the present location 
of sugar factories. 

In Map No 2 we indicate the counties that have already started a movement to 
secure a sugar factory. In some of these counties several towns are aspirants for the 
factory. Many of these efforts are as yet unorganized and are being pushed with scant 
knowledge of the requirements of the industry. But in many cases, the farmers have 
abundantly demonstrated that they can furnish beets of necessary quantity and qual- 
ity to supply a factory, local capitalists are interested, and it only needs favorable 
legislation and good business management to speedily establish the industry in such 
places. 

AVILL THE UNITED STATES PRODUCE ITS OWN SUGAR? 

Yes, if congress gives our farmei's a chance to do so. The following pages show 
what has been done. The exhibit is the best possible proof of what will be done in 
future if the industry is given a fair chance. 

In four years — 1892 to 1895— the domestic production of cane sugar jumped from 
165,000 to .324,000 tons. Of beet sugar, the domestic production was 255 tons in 1887, 
5,359 tons in 1891, 20,000 tons each year 1893-4. 30,000 tons in 1895 and for the campaign 
of 1896 makes the handsome total of 40,000 tons. Imports of beet sugar in the twelve 
months of 1896 reached 523, 000 tons. 

The statement in the following pages of what has been accomplished with sugar 
in the United States is the most complete and up-to-date yet published. Our effort 
has been to make it so brief that all will read it, so clear that all will understand it, 
so comprehensive that all will grasp the possibilities of the American sugar industry, 
so reliable that this work may be a faithful aid to all at present or in future inter- 
ested in this industry, whether as statesman, capitalist, manufacturer, farmer, laborer 
or consumer. 

TIME NECESSARY — THE RISK TO CAPITAL. 

Beet culture, however, cannot be learned in a single season. It is high farming, 
intensive horticulture, like the market gardening near our great cities, which is the 
result of fifty years of experience. Under the best management it takes from two to 
four seasons for the farmers in any locality to learn how to grow beets to the best 
advantage. Until this is done, the sugar factory is not assured of an abundant supply 
of beets of proper quality. Meanwhile the immense investment is at risk— from 
$200,000 upward in each factory, and at best the factories can run only 100 or 150 days 
during the year. Experience in this country has demonstrated that where the indus- 
try has survived this first stage, it has in every case become well established, to the 
satisfaction and profit of the farmers, laborers, railroads and capitalists interested in 
the business. 

WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF THE AMERICAN SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

Mainly European competition. Europe is now sending us nearly 100 times as 
much beet sugar as she did 15 or 17 years ago. She has developed her beet-sugar 




THE GREAT BOILER ROOM OF A BEET SUGAR FACTORY. 

From a photograph of the plant at Chino, southern California. The fuel is oil, 80,000 barrels being consnmed per season 

to operate the 2,400 hoise power engines. 



10 THE SUGAK INDUSTRY. 

industry by a liberal system of direct subsidies, high protection and export bounties, 
until the European beet-sugar industry has practically ruined the cane-sugar industry 
of the tropics and monopolized the sugar market of the world. To complete the 
destruction of the American sugar industry, or at least to prevent the further devel- 
opment of the beet-sugar business in this country, Germany has recently increased 
its export bounty. And France is about to follow suit, thus enabling their sugar to be 
sold in the United States below the cost of production in this country. The United 
States is supporting the sugar industry of Europe at the expense of the American 
farmer. 

WHAT IS NEEDED 

IS a reasonable specific duty on all imported sugar, with an additional discriminating 
duty from countries paying an export bounty, equal to that bounty. Then with such 
aid as the various states and localities interested may offer to secure sugar factories, 
the beet-sugar industry could be put on its feet in this country, within a very few 
years. 

It would afford farmers the new and profitable crop that they must have. 
It would also offer a new market for labor and an immense business to machine build- 
ers, railroads and others, and a fair return on the capital invested in the business, 
and it would distribute among these people the 100 million dollars that are now 
paid annually for imported sugar— a billion dollars during the past ten years! Amer- 
icans being the greatest users of sugar in the world, its consumption here has doubled 
in 15 years and is likely to increase in the same ratio in future. Thus by 1910, if the 
domestic industry supplies the home market as it should, it will be putting into the 
pockets of our people 200 million dollars a year that otherwise would be sent out of 
the country. 

We want to divert capital from further investment in refineries on the Atlantic 
coast to refine imported raw sugar, and induce capital to invest in the hundreds of 
new factories that will be required to work up the amount of beets and cane neces- 
sary to supply the home market with sugar. To build and equip these factories, 
and to supply the paraphernalia incident to this vast industry, means an investment 

of $300, 000, 000 or so. 

AMOUNT or PROTECTION NEEDED. 

Opinions differ as to the precise figure, but all are agreed upon the points made in 
the preceding paragraph. Also that the new tariff should go into effect promptly, so 
capital and agriculture may know what to bank on, and that no reciprocity to the 
detriment of sugar should be enacted. The tariff of 1883 imposed a duty of about 2c 
per lb on raw sugar, which yielded a revenue of $54,000,000. Some such rate, with a 
fraction of a cent per lb bounty on domestic sugar (to be gradually reduced) to 
directly encourage it and to protect it against unscrupulous competition by the sugar 
trust, would doubtless be sufficient. 

It will be seen from the table below (Table D) that the proposed duty in the 
United States of about 2c per lb on the best grades of imported raw sugar is only one- 
third to one-half as much as the present duties on sugar imposed by European coun- 
tries. It is this high protection, coupled with direct subsidies and export bounties, 
which has brought about the immense development of the beet-sugar industry on 



ECOKOillC ASPECTS OF SUGAK. 11 

the continent. The present bounty in Germany is about ic per lb on all sugar pro- 
duced and an additional export bounty of over ic per lb on raw and more than ic per 
lb on refined sugar. Direct bounties paid the European sugar producer in 1894 
amounted to more than $25,000,000. 

The average rate of duty imposed on raw sugar by the eight European nations 
named below is now 4.86c per lb, almost as much as the United States' war tariff of 5c 
per lb. The most that has been suggosted for American sugar, including both duty 
and bounty, is only one-half the present European duty. 

In the earlier years of our government the duty on sugar varied from 2i to 5c per 
lb. Of late years, the policy of the United States toward sugar has been as follows, 
and the present duties on sugar imposed by certain foreign countries are also given : 
Table D.— rates of duty on best grades of imported sugar (in cents per lb). 

UNITED STATES. PKESENT DUTIES IMPOSED BY OTHER COUNTRIES. 

1861, 5 cents per pound, Germany, 3.9 to 4.75 cents per pound, 

1.S62, 4 cents per pound, Austria-Hungary, 3.9 to 4.11 cents per pound, 

1864, 5 cents per pound, Belgium, 3.94 to 4. 36 cents per pound, 

1870, 4 cents per pound, Holland, 4.8 cents per pound, 

1874, 5 cents per pound, Russia, 6.6 to 8.88 cents per pound, 

1883, 21/3 to 31/2 cents per pound, Italy, 5.25 to 8.35 cents per pound, 

1890, i/ic duty, bounty on domestic sugar 2c per lb, Spain, 41/2 cents on foreign, 

1894, 40 per cent ad valorem, Spain, 2.94 cents on colonial, 

France, 6 to 7.45 cents per pound. 
The highest figures for the United States are for refined sugar, but raws constitute the bulk of 
imports. In the figures for foreign countries the smaller amount is for raw and the larger amount 
for refined sugar. 

AS TO STATE BOUNTIES. 

These have been tried in Utah and Nebraska, but a bounty offered by the state 
has proved to be an ephemeral thing. It has la.sted only from one to three years and 
in no case has proven to be perfectly satisfactory to either the state treasury, the 
public, or the farmers or manufacturers directly interested in the sugar industry. 
It is urged against state bounties that they give an artificial stimulus to the business 
that is not conducive to substantial development or to the best results in field or 
factory. 

The general opinion favors appropriate protection against foreign competition for 
a sutflcient term of years to give our domestic industry a fair chance. The investment 
required is so large that capitalists will not go into the industry unless there is rea- 
sonable assurance of its being successful for a long term of years. This hinges on 
protection against foreign competition, rather than upon any little aid for a year or 
two that might be given by a state bounty. 

Moreover, the state bounties encourage the industry in one state of course more 
than in another. Protection or direct aid in the form of bounties should be national 
m scope. Then each and every state will be on the same footing and the industry 
■will naturally develop along substantial lines in those sections that offer the best nat- 
ural inducements to its permanent success. 

WILL PROTECTION ENHANCE THE PRICE OF SUGAR TO DOMESTIC CONSUMERS? 

No. Eecent experience and the present status of the industry go to show that 
with proper protection there will be such an increase in the production of domestic 
sugar that, with the large imports which will continue, the market will be so well sup- 



1^ THE SUGAR INDLSTRY. 

plied as not to materially advance prices. It is possible that for a year or two the con- 
sumer may not be able to get within from one to two pounds as much sugar for a 
dollar as under the unprecedentedly low prices of the past year. The average value 
of vacuum-pan Louisiana sugar during the period covered by the tariff of 1888 was 
5.68c per lb, while under the Wilson bill it was 3.45c. Adding the difference between the 
average duty in 1889, 2.02c, and the present average duty of 0.87c, say 1.15c, we get 
4.6c as the selling price under the proposed rate of duty. This price is fully one cent 
below the price prior to 1890. 

In no market of Europe where the 5,000,000 tons of beet sugar are produced can the 
retailer procure his supply of consumable sugar so cheaply. It appears paradoxical 
that this very sugar, which by its cheapness in outside markets breaks down the value 
of American sugar to the starving point, should be so costly at home, but the explana- 
tion is easy. These countries impose a heavy tax on their home consumption in order 
to pay an export bounty on the crop. The German empire this year will produce 
some 2,000,000 tons of beet sugar and consume less than 600,000 tons, exporting 1,400,- 
000 tons. In Germany each factory pays a license of from $800 to $2500, according to 
size, and a tax of 2.1c per lb on all sugar sold to be consumed in Germany. 

AVHY HAS NOT THE AMERICAN SUGAR INDUSTRY DEVELOPED MORE RAPIDLY? 

Because when the sugar beet was first tried, 20 and 25 years ago, other crops paid 
so much better that farmers did not have the patience to learn how to grow beets. 
The first factories were not well located to secure an abundant supply of rich beets. 
The whole thing was comparatively new, and beets were of poorer quality than now. 
Then, 10 and 12 per cent of sugar in the beets was considered fair; now any- 
thing below 12 per cent is not accepted at the factory, averages of 14 to 15 per 
cent over large areas are not uncommon, while tests of 18 to 24 per cent sugar in 
American beets are on record. The beet is a thoroughbred that improves in richness 
as a result of proper inbreeding and care. Another powerful obstacle to the beet- 
sugar industry in America 10 and 20 years ago was, that with dollar wheat and virgin 
land free of cost, other crops were more profitable in comparison with the labor 
involved. 

With sugar cane, the industry prior to the war was conducted by slave labor and 
without much enterprise, the increase in slaves being an element of the profits. The 
industry was destroyed during the war. It took 20 years thereafter and an expendi- 
ture of $21,000, 000 to rebuild the levees and reclaim the plantations, and it was not 
until 1878 that Louisiana's product was restored to the figures of 1844—115,000 tons. 
From 1878 to 1886 there was much trouble with high water and crevasses, while as 
early as 1884 an era of low prices set in, which were helped by a reduced scale of 
duties. Almost any other industry would have succumbed to such adverse influences, 
but our sugar producers, though discouraged, would not admit defeat. They estab- 
lished an experiment station to learn more about fertilizing and chemical control of 
sugarhouse work, changed in a large measure to the central factory system— just as 
the dairy people liave done— improved the sugarhouse equipment and by 1890 had 
doubled the crop of 1878. Then came the "bounty" period, in which the growth of 
production in four years was from 165,000 tons to 324,000 tons. Had that law been 
kept in force we would, at that rate, have produced 1, 830, 000 tons in 1905 and from 




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14 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

beet root, by parity of reasoning, some 480,000 would have been produced— or 2,310,- 
000 tons of sugar, which is about 5 per cent over what we now consume. 

But with low duties and lower prices, many planters could not meet their obliga- 
tions. xVn idea of the disaster is given by the sale of liosehill plantation of 1200 
acres and a factory whose machinery cost over $100,000, which was sold by the sheriff 
for $15,000, while the Marshfleld plantation of 2000 acres sold for $5500, including 
stock and tools. 

Another reason why the beet-sugar industry did not develop much until 1890, was 
that the United States department of agriculture, discouraged by a few failures or 
blind to the merits of the beet root, led a wild-goose chase after sorghum. The pos- 
sibilities of sorghum are not denied, but the practical realities of cane and beets are 
such as to eclipse sorghum for commercial purposes. After it had been demon- 
strated that sorghum was not a reliable sugar plant, as compared with sugar cane or 
the beet root, government spent millions of money and years of time upon it. Sor- 
ghum could be cheaply raised like corn, was not a "back-bending crop" like the beet. 
The American Agriculturist did what it could to stem the sorghum craze by show- 
ing what the beet-sugar industry was doing in practice compared to the meager 
results of the sorghum theory, but it took years of bitter and costly experience on the 
part of government and farmers to vindicate our position. So the sorghum craze, fed 
from national and state treasuries, swept over the country for a dozen years. 

But as it exploded, more work was done with sugar beets, until, when the McKm- 
ley law was enacted, experience had pointed out the way to the success that has 
since been achieved. But hardly had a few beet-sugar factories been established 
under the McKinley act before its repeal was ordered by the people. This brought 
the industry to a standstill until the prospect of a change in administration, the abso- 
lute necessity of a new crop to relieve agricultural depression, and further successful 
experience with existing factories, makes the time ripe for a grand effort to supply 
the American market with American sugar. 

FARMERS MEAN BUSINESS. 

Farmers are now very emphatic in this demand. During the past sixty days farm- 
ers' organizations have been founded in several hundred counties to advance their 
interests in raising sugar beets and cane, in securing factories to work up the crop, to 
obtain needed legislation to develop the industry and to protect it against the trust. 
This organization is now growing with great vigor. Farmers realize what the sugar 
proposition means to them. They ai-e organizing to co-operate with labor and capital 
to establish the industry. They demand whatever reasonable legislation is needed 
to pave the way for such establishment of sugar factories. They will reward the 
political party that stands by them and punish their representatives who go back on 
them. They care more for their bread and butter, and will act accordingly. 



The American Sug^ar Growers^ Society. 

OBJECTS. 

1. To secure for American farmers, laborers and capitalists the American market 
for American-grown sugar, instead of having the American market supplied with the- 



ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF SUGAK, 15 

product of the highly protected and bounty-fostered beet-sugar industry of Europe, 
or of the cane-sugar industry of the cheap-labor countries of Africa and the east. 

2. To put into the pockets of the American people the $100,000,000 now sent 
abroad annually for imported sugar— one billion dollars every ten years. A sum 
which within a dozen years or so may be $200,000,000 annually. 

3. To show the American people that this upbuilding of what is destined to be 
one of the greatest of American industries and one of the most beneficent to Aixierican 
agriculture, can be done without injustice to others and without unduly advancing 
prices to consumers, but so that the enormous sums now sent out of the country every 
year may be distributed among our own farmers and others engaged in cultivating 
the thousands of acres of sugar beets and cane, and in operating the hundreds of 
enormous factories required to supply the people of the United States with sugar. 

4. These results to be aided by (1) appropriate tariff legislation to offset foreign 
export bounties and to afford reasonable protection against foreign competition ; and 
(2) by whatever encouragement may be offered by the respective states and by the 
localities that desire to secure sugar factories. 

5. In addition to these objects, the American Sugar Growers' Society, through its 
local and state organizations, will encourage farmers to become experts in beet cul- 
ture, will act as a medium through which capitalists and others who wish to start fac- 
tories may reach localities that want factories, and will in every proper, reasonable 
and legitimate way do all in its power to promote the best development of our domes- 
tic sugar industry. The Society will resist and try to prevent or circumvent any 
unjust action toward the industry that may be attempted by the sugar trust, and will 
do its utmost to secure for the growers of beets and cane the fullest measure of what- 
ever help may be extended to the industry by state or nation. 

ITS PLAN OF WORK. 

This is a non-secret, non-partisan, and strictly businesslike organization to carry 
out the above objects. 

It consists of national, state, congress, district and local societies. The national 
or American Sugar Growers' Society has general supervision of the movement and 
the work of organization. State societies afford a means of bringing together repre- 
sentatives from local and district societies for mutual benefit and to attend to state 
matters affecting the sugar Industry. The local society is the unit, and it may cover 
one or more townships or a whole county, provided that any question over conflicting 
jurisdiction be settled by the national office. The local society is the medium for 
acti\^e work in legislation, in experiments in the culture of beets or cane, in dissemi- 
nating information, in securing factories, etc. Each local society is entitled to one 
delegate for every five members in making up the district societies, whose territory is 
bounded by the limits of the United States congress district. The special purpose of 
the congressional district society is to enlighten your member of congress upon this 
subject, also both United States senators from your state, and to make them 
acquainted with your wants and demands, to the end that they may spare no effort 



16 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



in congress to secure prompt action favorable to your interests as present or prospec- 
tive producers of sugar crops. 

OFFICERS OF THE ORGANIZATION. 

President— R. M. Allen, Ames, Neh. President Nebraska Beet Sugar Growers' 
Association. 

Vice President— Charles A. Farwell, ISIew Orleans, La. President United 
States Cane Growers' Association. 

Treasurer— Herbert Myrick, 52 Lafayette Place, New York. President Orange 
Judd Company, and editor American Agriculturist, New York, and Orange Judd 
Farmer, Chicago, 111. 

Secretary— B. W. Snow, Marquette Building, Chicago, 111. Statistician Orange 

Judd Farmer. 

Executive Committee— The foregoing and one vice president for each state. 




SOME NEBRASKA SUGAR BEETS. 



vi^ vir 



PART TWO. 



The Cane Sugar Industry. 



BY PROF. W. C. STUBBS, 



Director Louisiana sugar experiment station at Audubon Park, New Orleans; director Louisiana state 
experiment station at Baton Rouge, director of tlie Nortli Louisiana experiment station at Cal- 
lioun, etc, etc. 



Note.— This chapter is designed to give a clear insisht into this creat inclustrj' at the South, but elaborate details of 
culture and management are omitted, because the industry is an old established one, and these matters are gener- 
ally known to those now engaged in or likely to enter into the cane sugar industry.— [ H. M. 



PART TWO. 



The Cane Sugar Industry. 




rnAKLES A. FARWKFJ., 
First vice president American Sugar Growers' Society, 
President United States Cane Planters' Association, 
New Orleans, La. Having been in the sugar business 
all his life, and possessing the confidence of the whole 
sugar Interests of tlie South, Mr. Farwell is a type of 
the men who are doing so much to develop this and 
other great industries in the South and throughout 
the country. 




BRIEF HISTORY of this 
industry is given on Page 
12, from which it will be 
seen that it is a very old 
industry, although its prin- 
cipal development dates from about 1885. 
Cane was originally introduced into Lou- 
isiana by the Jesuits from San Domingo 
in 1757, but the ribbon cane now generally 
planted was introduced via Georgia from 
the island of St Eustatius. There are 
many varieties of cane and these are be- 
ing daily increased by additions obtained 
from the planting of the true seed of the 
cane. The Louisiana sugar experiment 
station at Audubon pai'k, New Orleans, 
is experimenting with over 100 varieties; 
of these, however, only two kinds are in 
general use in the state— the Purple or 
Black Java, and the Purple Striped Rib- 
bon cane. A few planters grow a white 
variety known as the Light Java. These 
varieties were introduced about the year 
1825 and have become so thoroughly ac- 
climated to our soil and climate that they 
are now almost universally used. 



THE AEKA CAPABLE OF GROWING 
SUGAR CANE 

is far larger than has been supposed. The 
sugar cane belt can be extended along the Gulf coast from a point near Savannah, 
Ga, running almost parallel to the coast line, to the northern extremity of Louisiana 
and on through Texas to the Rio Grande river. If irrigation could be secured, a por- 
tion of Arizona and New Mexico could also be utilized for this crop. 

The area of cane in Louisiana for 1896-7 is about 300,000 acres. This amount can 



*Q THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

oe increased tenfold. In fact, I niaj' almost say, without fear of contradiction, that 
there is hardly an acre in Louisiana that is not available for sugar cane under intelli- 
gent culture. 

PECULIARITY OF THE CROP. 

Cane culture has one peculiar feature, not possessed by hardly any other plant 
oultivated in the United States. The large amount of cane necessary to jilant an acre 
(from four to six tons) makes it necessary to go slowly in the establishment of a large 
plantation. The usual method is to buy a carload or two of cane, plant a few acres 
and then use the entire crop of the next year in planting a larger acreage, and then 
the third year the entire crop in planting the plantation. In this way, it may be said 
to require three years to get into the cane culture upon a full scale. For this reason, 
the increasing and decreasing of a cane crop must be done gradually, and is unlike 
the beets, which can be increased or decreased annually at the will of the planter. 

PRESENT OBSTACLES TO THE CANE INDUSTRY. 

There is no doubt the area of cane will be greatly extended in the near future if 
we can receive substantial assurances of a pei'manent support against foreign compe- 
tition. At present, capitalists hesitate to invest in an industry the prices of whose 
product are more or less influenced by a changeable congress at Washington. A per- 
manent tariff is desired, in order that we may know and publish to the world what 
the profits will be under such a system. Having determined the profits, it will be 
easy (if the profits be remunerative), to secure capital to develop the large areas 
adaptable to the sugar cane. 

THE GREAT TROUBLE IN THE SUGAR CANE INDUSTRY 

is the large cost of the machinery necessary to economically manufacture the cane. We 
have reached that point in the development of this industry, that the larger the fac- 
tory the more economical the n.anufacture of cane into sugar. There seems to be no 
limit in the expansion of the sugarhouse. We have several in this state that are now 
working as high as from 1000 to 1500 tons of cane per day. This gives a factory the 
capacity of working 00,000 to 70,000 tons of cane in a season and some are able to work 
up even 100,000 tons. 

The clientele attached to such a sugarhouse is but little larger or more expen- 
sive than one for a sugarhouse taking off 200 to 300 tons per day. In these days of 
close competition and small profit, the large sugarhouse will survive, while the small 
one must inevitably surrender. Hence, in establishing central factories, it is now 
the purpose to build as large as possible so as to make the manufacturing expense of 
cane as low as possible per ton. 

To build and equip such a factory as this requires hundreds of thousands of dol- 
lars. These factories run only sixty to ninety days in a year, hence requiring the 
highest intelligence in every department to make the profit in these sixty or ninety 
days necessary to pay good interest upon the investment. The running of this sugar- 
house machinery night and day, from start to finish, often hurried by the advent of 
a disastrous frost, causes a wear and tear which would not occur if it could be kept 
running regularly throughout the year, and at a regular rate of speed. 

Moreover, while the sugarhouse is idle during nine or ten months of the year, 
the outfit depreciates in value, for idleness may be as injurious to machinery as wear 



22 T^HE SUGAR IXDUSTRY. 

and tear. Hence the depreciation account of a sugarliouse is a A'ery large item. It 
will be seen from this how different this industry is from running a refinery on raw 
sugar the year through, and how different it is from other kinds of manufacturing. 

THE SOIL BEST ADAPTED TO SUGAR CANE 

is a sandy loam, rich in vegetable matter. The cane does not seed, and since we 
grow it exclusively for sugar, the draft upon the soil is not heavy, provided the fod- 
der and tops, tiie bagasse from the mill, and the ashes from the sugarhouse, are all 
carefully returxied to the soil. But to make a crop profitable, a large amount of ton- 
nage must be secured. It is nothing unusual to secure a crop of 40 to 45 tons of 
stripped cane per acre (though 20 tons is a fair average over a large area). Forty 
tons means fully 70 tons of green matter growing upon one acre of land; and while 
the per cent of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash is comparatively small, the 
aggregate of these three ingredients removed from the soil by such a crop is large. 

The cane seems to be specially adapted to soils of an alluvial character on account 
of the tendency of these soils to make weed. The "raging fertility" of such soils 
has to be dampened by the growth of just such crops as sugar cane, which is a 
gigantic grass, before it can be adapted to the growth of cereals or other crops raised 
exclusively for the seed. Hence, the alluvial lands of Louisiana are peculiarly and 
singularly adapted to the cultivation of cane. 

THE SOIL IS USUALLY PREPARED 

in the following manner: Thoroughly broken with two to four horse plows, thrown 
up in beds six to seven feet in width, the middles deeply plowed and opened, and at 
intervals of short distances, what are termed quarter drains, running at right angles 
to the rows, are cut, leading into the ditches so that excessive rainfalls may be car- 
ried off without injury to the soil. This plowing is usually done in the fall;— though 
sometimes, from necessity, it is forced into the spring. 

PLANTING. 

After the soil is well prepared, the rows are opened with a double mold board 
plow, and the canes are deposited in this furrow— two to three continuous canes along 
the whole length of the row. These canes are then cut with a cane knife to adjust 
them to the ow, and covered either with a plow, a cultivator, or with a hoe. The 
planting is done any time between September and April. It is usually done by hand, 
though we have one or two cane-planting machines that have been experimenting in 
this line. After the cane has been planted, from each joint where is an "ej-e, '* 
springs a sprout. To assist this sprout in reaching the surface early in the spring, 
it is customary to scrape off the excess of dirt which was placed on the cane in the 
fall or early spring in order to protect it against the cold. 

CULTURE. 

After the cane has obtained a "stand," it is then cultivated, largely after the 
order of corn, care being taken to preserve always the cane upon a ridge so that the 
excessive rainfalls of summer may be easily disposed of. It is usually laid by in June 



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24 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

or early in July. After "lay by, " the cane grows very rapidly, particularly if fre- 
quent showers at short intervals conspire with warm weather. 

After the cane is planted we usually get two crops, sometimes three, from the 
same planting. The first crop is usually termed the "plant cane, " and the second 
and third "first stubble" or rattoons. Cane is planted in this state so as to secure a 
continuous stand at maturity of from three to five stalks to the running font. The 
stalks usually weigh from 2 to 4 lbs apiece. Like all grasses, cane tillers or suckers 
very greatly, and during the summer months many of these suckers or tillers perish. 
Hence the necessity of not planting cane too thick or too thin. If planted thickly, it 
will exhaust its energies in trying to sucker — a natural quality which seems to be exer- 
cised. If planted too thinly, the field will be filled at harvest with a large proportion 
of immature suckers, low in sugar. 

HARVESTING. 

In Louisiana the general harvest begins in October and lasts till January. In trop- 
ical countries grinding does not begin before January and usually lasts till June or 
July. In Louisiana, on account of the severity of our winter, cane must be harvested 
in the fall and winter or be killed. It is therefore only about eight or nine months 
old when worked In the sugarhouse. In tropical countries it is frequently fifteen 
and sometimes eighteen months old when harvested. Hence the superiority of tropic- 
al canes in sucrose over those grown in the southern part of this country. 

in the latitude of southern Louisiana, we make a crop every year, while in the 
tropics only two crops are made in three years. Our less yield per acre than in the 
tropics is therefore somewhat made up. But, per contra, in the tropics, they only 
plant cane once in four to six years, while we must plant every other year. 

ROTATION OF CROPS. 

In Louisiana the regular rotation of cane is as follows: Cane, two or three years> 
and then followed with corn, sown broadcast at lay by with cowpeas (usually the clay 
variety), and the entire mass of vines and stalks turned under in August or Septem- 
ber, and replanted in cane. 

HOW TO START THE CANE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

A community can experiment to demonstrate what it can do with sugar cane in 
this way : 

Let each individual plant sugar cane on a small area and manufacture it on a 
small scale, with horse mills and open evaporators, according to the old-fashioned sys- 
tem. In this way, the saccharine content of their cane and the average available 
tonnage per acre can be established. Then, they can present to the commercial world 
a valid argument to enlist capital in a factory. The average yield being say 20 tons 
per acre, 5000 acres would be required to furnish the maximum crop of 100,000 tons 
that can be worked up in a single season by a modern factory of large size. Certainly 
nothing less than 2500 acres under cane each year would answer for a modern 
factory. 

The Louisiana experiment station at Baton Rouge has published a bulletin (Xo. 
5) giving full directions about sugar making on a small scale, which also gives direc- 




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36 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



tions for culture of tlie cane in a small way. A copy of it will be sent free to any- 
one who applies to Baton Kouge for it in person or by mail. 

The difficulties in securing a central factory for working up sugar cane are 
dependent entirely upon the slowness with which sugar cane plantations can be 
established. Cane plantations must be established before the factory will be secured, 
and farmers are slow to establish a crop which requires three years of work and 
patience, unless they have "an assurance doubly assured" of a factory. 

DEvSCRIPTION or MANUFACTURE. 

Cane is hauled from the field and dumped alongside a moving platform, which 




SUGARHOUSE ON ADELINE PLANTATION, FRANKLIN, LA. 

Tliis plant is owned and operaled by tlie Oxnard family, who are also interested in the beet sujrar 
factories at Nortoiic am.) Grand Island, Nebraska, anti Cliino, California. Like llie latter plant, Ilie 
Adeline sttgarhonse lias all modern improvements. This is the only instanee we K-now of in the 
United States in which the comparative merits of the cane and beet have been closely compand for 
a series of yeais. 

conveys it to the mill, and drops it, end on, into a chute which abuts upon the first 
mill— generally a three-roller mill, giving two pressures. Thence a conveyor takes 
the crushed cane to a second mill, where it gets a final squeezing and is ejected in a 
pretty dry state (called "bagasse"). This is conveyed by a third carrier to the 
bagasse furnace, wherein it is consumed as fuel and supplies steam power and 
steam heat to the sugar house. 

Or, the cane may be cut up into small pieces by specially designed knives and 
carried into large cast-iron cells known as diffusers. Here they are treated by the 
diffusion process, as described later on in the chapter on manufacture of sugar from 
beets. 

The juice, as it runs from the mill, is strained and limed and passes into the clari- 
fiers, where the temperature is raised and the lighter impurities come to the surface 



ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF SUGAR. 



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and are skimmed off, while tlie heavier go to the bottom, and the clear juice is drawn 
oft' and sent to the boiling-down apparatus, double or triple effect. Here it is con- 
centrated into a syrup, again treated to 
remove impurities, and then goes to the 
vacuum pan, where it is boiled to grain. 
The contents of the pan are then sent to 
the centrifugal machines, which separate 
the sugar from the molasses, and the 
barreling of the sugar completes the 
cycle of operations. 

A second crop of crystals, of lower 
grade, is made from this molasses, and 
its molasses is the final by-product. The 
scums and settlings are passed through 
filter presses and quite a quantity of 
sugar recovered from them. 

A sugarhouse turning out one ton 
of sugar per hour will require about 
90 men, skilled and unskilled, from the 
chemist to the trash boy. 




CANE STUBBLE DIGGER. 




CULTIVATOR FOR CANE. 



QUALITY AXD GRADE OF PRODUCT. 

The product from such a modern sugarhouse is called "centrifugal" sugar, as con- 
trasted with sugar made by the old-fashioned, open-kettle process, which is known as 



28 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



"open -kettle" sugar. By the latter system, the juice of the cane is evaporated in 
four large iron kettles arranged in a line. The juice, after being sulphurized, is drawn 
into the first or Grand kettle, where it is limed, heated and the scums removed. It is 
then drawn into the second or Flambeau kettle, where it is brushed and cleaned, then 
passed to the third or Syi-up kettle, where it is further brushed, thence passed into 
the Batterie, where it is reduced to the granulating point. It is then dipped out into 
coolers and run into large strainers, which allow the molasses to drain off. The 
resulting "opeu-kettle" sugar is then ready for the refinery, and constitutes what was 
formerly known as brown sugar, but very little of it now reaches the market until 
after it is refined. 

The commercial grades of these two kinds of sugar: Open-kettle sugars are raAv 
and unrefined, the name of each grade, beginning with the lightest color, is as follows: 
— Choice, Strict Prime, Prime, Fully Fair, Good Fair, Fair, Good Common, Com- 
mon, and Inferior. 

The best grades of centrifugal sugars are almost as good in quality, appearance 
and saccharine strength as the best grades of refined sugar resulting from the refining 
processes employed in the very extensive refineries, most of which are operated by 
the "sugar trust." The best grade of centrifugal sugir is known as Plantation Granu- 
lated, and the other commercial grades are graded according to appearance, color, etc, 
as follows: Plantation Granulated, Off Granulated, Choice White, Off White, Gray 
White, Confectioners' Yellow, Choice Yellow, Prime Yellow, Off Yellow, Seconds. 





>* 



VACUUM PAN, 
At tlie Lelii, Utali, beet sugar factory. 



PART THREE. 



The Beet Sugar Industry. 



Embodying tlie actual results of all American beet sugar factories, the methods of the most successful 

practical beet growers in all parts of America, and the lessons acquired by the scientific 

work of the United States Department of Agriculture (Dr. Harvey W. 

Wiley, Chief of Division of Chemistry), and of the various 

State agricultural experiment stations. 



BY HERBERT MYRICK. 




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PART THREE. 



The Beet Sugar Industry, 



CHAPTER I. 

WHAT HAS BEEX ACC03IPLISHED IN AMERICA. 

The first efforts toward producing sugar from the beet in this country were made 
near Philadelphia in 1830, without success. Eight years afterward, David L. Child 

made a crude attempt at Northampton, 
Mass, the beets averaging per cent, of 
sugar. In 1863 the Gennert Brothers, from 
Germany, established a factory at Chats- 
worth, Illinois, a location illy chosen, it is 
said, in soil and climate. After struggling 
for several years, the factory was removed 
to Freeport, 111, and later to Black Hawk, 
Sauk county. Wis, where it was started as 
a co-operative enterprise. From Black 
Hawk a portion of the machinery, at least, 
was removed to California. In all of the 
latter instances, there was more or less 
inefficiency in factory management, but the 
chief difficulty was the lack of interest on 
the part of farmers, and their failure to 
furnish sufficient beets. The quality of the 
beets was also very inferior. Even in 
California's early days, it was several years 
before they learned the proper stage of 
maturity at which to harvest the crop. 
Onlv an elaborate account of all these early 
efforts could give an insight into the trials 
and disappointments they involved, but 
the lessons of this bitter and costly ex- 
perience have been made the most of, and 
paved the way for the successes of the past 
half-dozen years. We should not forget 
to honor the pioneers in this industry. About 1871 Messrs Bonesteel & Otto erected 
a small factory at Fond du Lac, which, after making some sugar, was dismantled and 




FOUNDER OF AMERICA'S BEET-SUGAR 
INDUSTRY. 

This is not too much to say of Mr Henry T. Oxnaril, 
president of the heet-siigar companies operating facto- 
ries at Norfolk, (Jrand Island and Chino. He oritaiiized 
the American Beet Siitfar Mannfactiuers' Association, 
and lias l)eeii the head and front of the ilevelopment of 
the heet-stifjar industry iti the United States as a com- 
mercial enterprise. See pages 34-35. 



:« 



THE SUCtA.R industry. 



the machinery removed to California. Late in the '70's, beet-sugar factories were 
established at Portland, Me, Franklin, Mass, one in New Jersey, and another in Dela- 
ware. In California, the Alvarado plant was 
established in 1870, and one at Sacramento in 
1873, and one a distance below that city at 
Istleton in 1874 or '75. The two latter soon 
failed, and an attempt at Los Angeles, along in 
1878-9, never amounteii to anything. 

ALL THESE EARLY ATTEMPTS FAILED 

for the reasons stated on Page 12 and also be- 
cause at that time other crops were so much 
more profitable that farmers would not grow 
beets, in the culture of which they were wholly 
ignorant. The then high-priced lands of the 
east, with the expensive manuring and labor 
involved in the crop, did not make sugar beets 
profitable with farmers. The factories, in the 
east at least, were not located so as to secure a 
large supply of beets from the immediate 
neighborhood, and high freights cut down the 
farmers' returns. The factories were compar- 
atively small, and with a limited supply sf beets 
of uneven or inferior quality, their operating 
expenses left no margin of profit. 

Later, attempts were made to establish the 
industry in Canada, and a factory was established 
at Berthierville, Quebec, and another at Farn- 
ham, Quebec, but the French Canadians did 
not have sutficient enterprise to grow the beets, 
and with mismanagement of the factory, the 
industry languished in spite of a small subsidy 
from government. The Berthierville plant was 
removed to Eddy, New Mexico, in 1896, and 
the Farnham outfit to Kome, New York, in 
1897. The Dominion government encouraged 
the industry by a direct subsidy of (we believe) 
one cent per lb, but it was not continued long 
enough to overcome the indisposition of farmers 
to raise the beets, although the Farnham enter- 
prise got $44,000 from this source in the years 
1892-3, and Berthierville $41,000 in the years 
'95-6. 

AN EXCEPTION-HONOR TO TVHOM HONOR IS DUE. 

The factory at Alvarado, California, started 
in 1870, is the first sugar factory which 




A TYPICAL SUGAR BEET. 

This beet was selecterl for ilhistratlon herein from 
a lot of 57 tons of "mother heets" chosen for seed- 
frrowing i)nriioses hv the Utah Suijar Co. The 
al)ove enjrravins Is just half size. The oriainal 
heet was 13 inohes Ions, exclnsive of an inch or 
two tirokeii off the tip. It weisrhed 28 ounces aiul 
oontaiiicil 17 % snt'ar, of 84 jinrity. For seed prrow- 
int:, till' tci|i is left as shown, lint for the factorv, 
the hntts of steins and woody matter forming the 
oval top are cut off square and clean. 






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34 THE SUGAK INDUSTRY. 

has continued its existence to the present time. Its machinery came originally 
from the failures in Illinois and Wisconsin. Tlie Alvarado enterprise struggled along 
for years, while the farmers were learning how to grow beets, and while the quality 
of beets was being improved, and in the face of the competition of free sugar from 
Hawaii. Too much credit cannot be extended to E. II. Dyer, and his brother, Edward 
F. Dyer and others, for their persistent work at Alvarado. 

Credit is also due Dr C. A. Goessman, an expert who came over from Germany 
in 1857, as chemist to a sugar refinery at Philadelphia and became chemist to the 
Massaciiusetts agricultural college at Amherst ten years later. With funds furnished 
by that institution, Goessman conducted the first really scientific work in sugar-beet 
culture in this country, 1873-6. This was followed by work with sorghum, 187()-!i, 
which he had been studying since his first report upon it to the New York state agri- 
cultural society in 1801. Goessman's results demonstrated the practicability of the 
sugar beet, and also showed the comparative weakness of sorghum as a commercial 
sugar plant. Had his teachings been followed, the present condition of our American 
beet-sugar industry might have been reached ten or twenty years earlier. 

Liberal recognition is also due Lewis S. Ware, M E, editor of the Sugar Beet, 
also Henry Carey Baird & Co, its j^ublishers, by whom that journal has been con- 
ducted for 17 years, largely as a labor of love and as a patriotic duty in aid of this 
great industry that is now on the threshold of a mighty growth. 

Dr H. W. Wiley, chief of the division of chemistry, United States department 
of agriculture, when in charge of the sorghum work, tried to make that enterprise 
a success if possible, but as early as 1884 he investigated the sugar beet in California 
and reported favorably upon it. In 1883, he urged that stations be established to 
experiment with beet, cane and sorghum, but Dr Wiley says it was not until Sec- 
retary Rusk's administration (1888-'92) that he was allowed to carry out his plans. 
Then the beet station was established at Schuyler, Nebraska, for sorghum at Sterling, 
Kansas, and for cane at Runnymede, Florida, later for all sugar plants at Union 
Island, California. These were all abolished by Secretary Morton, the Florida sta- 
tion going last in 1895. Dr Wiley's work is embraced in Bulletin 27, prepared in 1889. 

While the gentlemen above named and many others not mentioned, did much 
in the early days of the industry to promote it, the real impetus given to the beet 
sugar industry as a practical commercial enterprise in the United States dates from 
the time the Oxnards took it up late in the '80's. x\fter large experience in the cane 
sugar and sugar refining interests in the United States, Mr Henry T. Oxnard made a 
special study of beet sugar abroad, and became convinced of its possibilities here. With 
characteristic energy, enthusiasm and ability, Mr Oxnard spared neither labor nor money 
in condvicting a grand campaign of education, in the course of which he has expended 
largely of his private fortune. He was also the organizer of the American 
beet sugar manufacturers' association in 1891, and as its president has served 
without salary and mainly at his own expense. Mr Henry T. Oxnard has 
backed iip his faith with immense investments in sugar factories, by giving 
away many tons of beet seed, and is to-day the I'ecognized head of the industry 
in the United States. With the aid of his brother James G. Oxnard (a sugar engineer 
of large practical experience), James G. Hamilton and others, the favorable legislation 



36 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

of 1890 was obtained, and the great beet-sugar factories at Cliino, Grand Island and 
Norfolk were built by different companies, of all of which Mr Henry T. Oxnard is 
president. During 1896-7 he has been indefatigable in political circles and at Wash- 
ington to secure a fair chance for the industry against foreign competition. He has 
now organized a construction company through which to give the full benefit of his 
experience, and of the body of trained experts associated with him, to those avIio 
contemplate building or operating beet-sugar factories. 

RECENT DEVELOPMENT. 

Results at Alvarado finally attracted the attention of Claus Spreckels, the Hawai- 
ian cane-sugar king. Thoroughly informed upon the beet-sugar industry in his 
native country (Germany), Mr Spreckels realized three things : (1) That it was only 
n question of time before the United States would abrogate the one-sided reciprocity 
treaty with Hawaii that was making him immensely wealthy; (2) that there was no 
reason why this country should not produce its own sugar, California offering ideal 
advantages; and (3) that in the battle for supremacy the beet is destined to win. 
With his usual keen business judgment, Mr Spreckels erected a small beet-sugar fac- 
tory at Watsonville, which turned out about 1000 tons of sugar from beets grown in 
1888. The plant was enlarged in time to profit by the McKinley bounty, and has 
gone on with uninterrupted success until it converted into sugar more than 100,000 
tons of beets grown in 1890. 

The Oxnards established the great beet-sugar factory at Chino, Cal, in time to 
work up the 1891 crop, and in the campaign of 1895 it handled 8:3,000 tons of beets. 
The Oxnards had the sugar factory at Grand Island, Nebraska, done in time to work 
up 4500 tons of beets grown in 1890, and it converted about 25,000 tons of the '90 crop 
of beets into sugar. The same interests built the factory at Norfolk, Nebraska, which 
worked 8000 tons in its first (1891) campaign, and upward of 50,000 tons in 1897. 

Local capital and the characteristic enterprise of certain men ["jirominent in the 
Mormon church, led to the establishment of the factory at Lehi, Utah, which handled 
nearly 10, 000 tons of beets in its first campaign (1891), and nearly 45, 000 tuns of the 
1896 crop. O. K. Lapham also established a small plant at Staunton, Virginia, that 
demonstrated the practicability of the industry, but was burned in 1894. The factory 
at Eddy, New Mexico, was got in oi)eration in time to work up a few thousand tons 
of the '96 crop, and the same can be said of the new plant at Menomonee Falls, Wis. 

THE RECORD IN BRIEF. 

Such is an outline of the beet-sugar industry in America to the opening of 1897. 
The bounty of two cents per iiound for, fifteen years offered by the McKinley tariff', 
-Aug 6, 189g, gave a great stimulus to an industry which years of extensive and costly 
experimenting had shown could be developed in this country. But before much 
could be done, progress was arrested by the Wilson tariff, Aug 28, 1894, removing the 
bounty and substituting a duty of only 40 per cent ad valorem, with constantly de- 
creasing prices, due to the unfair competition of European export-bounty-fostered 
sugars. 

As usual, it took the farmers several years to learn how to grow beets, and it was 
not until 1890 that these factories were supplied with all the beets tliey could possi- 



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38 THE SUGAR IXDLSTRY. 

bly work into susar. This season was a disappointment at Cliino, wliere tlie expected 
crop was considerably curtailed by drouth. At Lehi, on the other hand, too many 
beets were grown— the factory could hardly work them all. We are under obligations 
to Willett & Gray for the following. 

SUMMARY OF BEET SUGAR PRODUCTIOiV IN THE UNITED STATES: 

[111 tons of 2240 pounds.] 

1830, A few hundred pounds 1884, 953 tons 

18317, None 1885, 600 tons 

1838-9, 1,3(10 lbs 1886, 800 tons 

1839 62, None 1887, 255 tons 

1863-71, 300—500 tons per annum 1888, 1,910 tons 

1872, 500 tons 1889, 2,600 tons 

1873, 700 tons 1890, 2,800 tons 
1874-7, Under 100 tons per annum 1891, 5,359 tons 

1878, 200 tons 1892, 12,091 tons 

1879, 1,200 tons 1893, 20,453 tons 

1880, 500 tons 1894, 20,443 tons 
1881-2, Less tlian 500 tons 1895, 30,000 tons 
1883, 535 tons 1896, 40,000 tons 

WHAT OF THE FUTURE ? 

Wherever factories have been established, farmers are now eager to raise beets 
for them at $4 to $5 per ton. Offers have been made to grow beets for the older fac- 
tories in 1897 far in excess of their capacity. Watsonville could not accept half the 
acreage offered. In such cases, the factories contract only with those growers who 
have shown the most interest and the ability to furnish beets of the best quality. 

Mr Spreckels has under construction at Salinas City, California, what is destined 
to be the largest single beet sugar factory in the world, with a capacity of over 
300,000 tons of beets during a campaign of about 100 days, that will be ready for the 
1898 crop, and will require 25,000 acres of beets for its supply.. At Alamitos, Califor- 
nia, a new factory will be ready for 1897 with a capacity of 350 tons of beets per day. 
The first New York Beet Sugar company hopes to have the machinery from the plant 
at Farnham in operation at Kome, New York, in time to handle 30,000 tons of the 
1897 crop. 

Several of the existing factories propose to enlarge. There are a number of other 
factory enterprises that are more or less organized. About 1000 conmiunities in the 
.cane and beet sugar belts are anxious to secure beet-sugar factories or cane-sugar 
houses. There is no question about the prompt and extensive development of the 
industry, if congress extends to it satisfactory assurances that the American market 
will be preserved for the American sugar producers. Without this, the business will 
;atop right where it is. 

ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES. 

Before proceeding to give details of just how the foregoing has been accomplished 
and a full discussion of what has been learned from all past experience that may 
guide us in the future, a few elementary points should be understood. 

TECHNICAL TERMS EXPLAINED. 

Prof W. A. Henry covers this point very clearly in these words : What is meant 
t)y "per cent of sugar in the juice" and by co-efficient of purity? A hundred pounds 
of sugar beets contain about 95 pounds of juice. This juice not only contains sugar 




"1 



40 THE SUGAR IXDUSTUY. 

but various other substances, largely mineral matter, which are a great hindrance, 
causing serious losses of sugar during tiie manufacture. A hundred pounds of average 
beet juice will carry about 15 pounds of solid matter, of which twelve pounds may be 
sugar, and three pounds matter not sugar. If we divide the number of pounds of 
sugar (12) by the total pounds of solid matter (1")), we get .80, which sum is called 
the co-efficient of purity; that is, beet juice with 15 parts solids, 12 of which are 
sugar, is said to have a co-efficient of purity of 80. If the sample of juice contains 
10 parts solid matter and 12 parts sugar, as before, then the co-efficient of purity is- 
only 75. 

When reducing the beet juice to make sugar, each pound of foreign matter, not 
sugar, keeps at least one pound of sugar from crystallizing. This true, we sea at once- 
that the manufacturer desires beet roots not only carrying much sugar but also with 
a high co-efficient of purity. Immature beets, those grown on soils rich in vegetable 
matter or fertilized with fresh barnyard ruanure, those grown on land recently cleared 
from the forest, or on drained swamp lands, are all liable to carry a great deal of 
solid matter not sugar in the juice, and consequently are quite unsatisfactory to the 
sugar manufacturer. Large beets are likewise always poor in sugar. The leaf stems 
ot the beet, as well as the crown of the beet root itself, also carry much foreign mat- 
ter. In practice, the manufacturer recovers about 7 out of every 10 pounds of sugar 
contained in the beet root. 

It should be added that the apparent co-efficient of purity of the juice is fre- 
quently misleading, since it takes no account of the nature of the non-sugars present. 
The real purity of the beet is also to be distinguished from the apparent purity of 
the juice. The real purity of the beet is obtained by dividing the percentage of 
sugar in the beet by the total solid matter therein ; the apparent purity of the juice 
by dividing the percentage of sugar therein by the apparent percentage of solids as 
indicated by the Brix spindle. 

QUALITY OF THE BEET SUGAR. 

Whenever the subject of beet sugar is brought forward the first inquiry usually 
made is, "Is beet sugar white like other sugar and does it not have a peculiar taste?" 
In its very beginning, Avhen struggling for recognition in Europe, the beet industry 
was handicapped by the claim that its sugar was not equal in quality with that yield- 
ed by the cane plant of the tropics. England did not wish to recognize any competitor 
with the cane sugar of her dependencies. In brief, to answer the questions asked 
above, the refined sugar from the beet root equals in all particulars that yielded by 
the cane plant. Enormous quantities of beet sugar are now being shipped to this 
country from Europe, mainly Germany, and the chances are more than even that the 
persons who question the purity and flavor of beet sugar are using it daily in their 
tea and coffee. 

HOW BEET SUGAR IS MADE. 

The large illustration on Page 30 gives an admirable view of the interior of the 
Chino beet-sugar factory, which will help to make clear this description of the proc- 
ess of manufacture. First, the beets are brought in by the farmers and deposited in. 
large sheds with V-shaped bottoms, which are connected with the factory by means, 



ECO]SrOMlC ASPECTS OF SUGAR. 41 

of channels, through which a moderate flow of water carries the beets into the first 
washing machine. By means of a spiral, the beets are tumbled about, washed and 
carried on until they drop into an elevator, which carries them to the top of the 
building, where they pass through an automatic weigher and are sliced in such a 
manner as to open up the pores of the beet as far as possible. The sugar beet is 
very similar to the honeycomb, and in its little cells is secreted the sweet matter, so 
that in slicing, it is desirable to open up as many of these little cells as possible. 
Hence the necessity of having the knives sharp, so that the cells may not be ruptured, 
but clean cut. As these slices come from under the cutter, they are put in what is 
known as a diffusion battery, shown in the center of the foreground of illustration on 
Page 30. In this battery, the sugar is extracted by soaking the sliced beets in 
water. Warm water is turned into the contents of a large iron jar holding several 
tons of sliced beets. This water circulates through the mass of cossettes (the name 
given to the slices of beets) and passes out through the bottom by means of a pipe 
which enters the top of Jar No 2, the water being forced along by pressure. 

From one battery to another, this liquid passes along until it has gone through 14 
cells or jars, when it is shown that suflicient water has passed through Jar No 1. 
The water is now turned off and No 2 becomes No 1 and No 1 is emptied of its cos- 
settes and refilled, becoming No 14, and so the circle is continued all day and all 
night, procuring in this way all the sugar in the cossettes in liquid form, which now 
has the color of vinegar. This liquid is now taken to a measuring tank near by from 
which it goes to a mixer, where it is mixed with lime and then put into a huge tank 
for carbonation. in which the lime and all foreign mstter it contains is rendered- 
insoluble by means of carbonic acid gas forced through the uottom of the carbonation 
tank. Then the mixture comes through the filter press room where, by means of an 
elaborate series of frames, it is filtered, and becomes transparent. The process of 
mixing, carbonating and filtering is then repeated for the second time. This fin- 
ished, the syrup is treated with sulphur fumes and then passes into the quadruple 
effect, which is four large boilers in which the water contained in the syrup is evapo- 
rated, when we have what is called "thick juice." This syrup is boiled in the vac- 
uum pan, and now becomes raw sugar, and is then run into the centrifugals and made 
into white sugar. The sugar is now damp, like wet snow, and by means of a granu- 
lator, it is dried, and through different sieves is separated into the finer or coarser- 
grained sugar, ready for the market. 



CHAPTER II. 
HOW THE IKDUSTRY HAS GROWN IN EACH STATE. 

CALIFORNIA. 

The Golden State is on the eve of an enormous development of her beet-sugar 
Industry. The remarkable success of this industry in recent years has stimuhited both 
capitalists and farmers to push this new industry to the utmost in case the American 

market is reserved for American sugar. 
Experiments in many parts of the state 
have been conducted extensivelj* during 
the past six years. In many of these cases, 
the beets have been raised on a large scale 
and shipped to existing factories, some 
being hauled long distances. In other cases, 
the crop has been used as feed for stock 
while the farmers were learning how to 
raise the crop, and demonstrating tiie 
adaptability of the sugar beet to their pe- 
culiar soil by having the beets analyzed at 
the state experiment station. It is now 
evident that there are hundreds of square 
miles of the richest land in the world avail- 
able for sugar-beet culture in the Golden 
State. 

The factory of the Alameda sugar com- 
pany, at Alvarado, will probably be en- 
larged this year. During the campaign 
with the 1896 crop, it has worked up about 
55,000 tons of beets. Their sugar content 
varied from 12 to 18 per cent, with from 
70 to 88 per cent co-efficient of purity, 
averaging over 15 per cent of sugar and 
81 purity. We give on Page 33 an excel- 
lent photo-engraving of this historical 
pioneer factory. 
In the 1895 campaign Alvarado worked 27,385 tons of beets into 5,400,000 lbs of 
sugar, che beets averaging 13 per cent of sugar. 

MK SPRECKELS' ENTERPRISE AT AVATSONVILLE 

in Santa Cruz county, near the coast, about 75 miles south of San Francisco, and 25 
miles north of IMonterey, has the credit of standing at the head of the sugar industry 




PRESIDENT ALLEN. 
R. M. Allen, president of tlie Anieriean sn^rar 
growers' society, is also president of tlie Nebraska 
state sugar growers' society and one of the largest 
growers of sugar beets in the country, having 
gro\yn 500 acres of beets annually for tlie i>ast six 
years. He is also a large cattle feeder and is pro- 
foundly impressed with the vast possibilities of 
the lieet sngar industry and of the great value in 
cattle feeding of the beet pulp from tlie factory 
and of the beet tops. 



4-1 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

in America, woiking up in a single season the largest quantity of beets, and turning 
out the largest quantity of sugar ever made by one factory in this country. As high 
as 1400 tons of beets have been crushed by the factory in one day of 24 hours, also the 
American record. The campaign of ISDO began in September and concluded on Jan- 
uary 20, beets being delivered by the farmers up to Jan 2o. There were 154,030 tons of 
beets delivered to the factory by rail and wagon, from which 10,528 tons of sugar 
were made during the campaign of 171 days, the factory running 3440 hours— the long- 
est run on record in this or any other country. This plant does not refine its prod- 
uct, the raw sugar being shipped to the Spreckels' refinery at San Francisco, which 
accounts in part for the large capacity of this factory. 

It is not likely that this phenomenal record will soon be duplicated by this or 
any other factory. The conditions were about as near perfect as could be, both in 
field and mill. The phenomenal crop of 1804 was beaten by about 10,000 tons by the 
crop of 1800, but the quality was nmch higher, as 7000 more tons of sugar were ob- 
tained the past season than in the 1804-5 campaign. 

The 155,000 tons of beets were grown on about 11,017 acres, yielding an average of 
14 tons of beets, and 3, 545 pounds of raw sugar per acre. Some fields gave as high 
as 25 tons per acre, and small plots of a few acres ran up to 30 tons, while several 
tracts of 100 acres or more averaged 18 tons per acre. Fully 12,000 acres have been 
contracted for the '07 campaign, indicating a probable crop of 150,000 tons. 

In the campaign of 1805, the Watsonville factory ran 2003 hours, sliced 77,145 tons 
of beets or an average of 000 tons per day of 24 hours. From these beets 10,945 tons 
of sugar were manufactured. The beets were produced on 7244 acres, which averaged 
nearly 11 tons of beets and H tons of sugar per acre. This is a smaller yield than in 
previous years, because of extensive rainfall during the harvest period. 

The Watsonville factory pays $4 per ton for all beets, or a total paid farmers for 
the '90 crop of nearly $650,000 compared to $300,000 for the crop of the previous year. 
Since its humble beginning upon the crop of 1888, this concern has paid the farmers- 
about $2,500,000 for beets— a new crop that but for this factory would not have been 
grown. More than halt a million has been paid for labor in this factory. In brief, 
this enterprise, in a little more than eight years, has distributed some $3,000, - 
000 among the farmers and laborers of this vicinity — money that otherwise would 
have gone out of the country to pay for imported sugar. This money and the indus- 
tries its circulation has created, have built up a remarkably prosperous connnunity, 
where farmers were prosperous and money was easy all through the hard times of 
1893-0. Whole pages could be filled with the particulars of the beneficent i-esults of 
the industry, especially in view of tlie fact that but for it these farmer would have 
been obliged to raise grain or fruits at little or no profit. Many of them have paid off 
theh- mortgages and acquired a snug little competence besides from the beet crop. 
Says the local paper, the Pajaw^i^i'i of Jan 21, 1807: "The beet payday last week was 
a giant and twenty-dollar pieces crowded each other in Watsonville. There was about 
as much money paid out here that payday as the railroad company pays out monthly 
at its big shop center, Sacramento; and the next payday will be about as large." 

EXPKRIEXCE TV SOT'THKKX CALIFORNIA. 

The enterprise at Chino in San Bernardino county in Southern California, is in 



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4(j THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

many respects typical of what the sugar industry can do for a community. A few 
years ago this was a vast ranch, which Richard Gird had purchased and conducted 
as a cattle and horse-breeding establishment, on the liberal scale characteristic of 
California's early days. With the decline in live stock, however, Mr Gird recognized 
the necessity of devoting his property to the production of some crop that could be 
utilized at a profit in the vicinity. Instead of going into citrus fruits or other spe- 
cialties already established in that region but in which he feared overproduction, he 
looked into the beet-sugar industry, raised beets for a number of years on various 
soils, determined their sugar content, and in due time was able to demonstrate that 
on this spot could be raised the largest yields per acre of beets richest in sugar. All 
this involved a vast amount of original and costly work, and thus it took two or 
three years to find capitalists and get them sufficiently interested to put up the 
money needed. The outcome was the establishment by the Chino Valley Beet-Sugar 
Company of the immense plant illustrated in part on Pages 30, 45 and 47, in which the 
Oxnards are the controlling spirits. 

Mr Gird had to contract to furnish the factory with at least 5000 acres of beets for 
several years— and this at a time wlien there was not another house to be seen from 
the homestead on the vast ranch. But with a market assured for a new, certain and 
profitable crop, Mr Gird at once offered liberal inducements to settlers, land was sold 
m small blocks on easy terms, people flocked to Chino, until it has now become a 
thriving community in a well-built town, surrounded by farms of from 10 to 30 acres 
or more, each with its comfortable home and well to-do family. All this where cattle 
and horses roamed the unbroken prairie previous to 1890. And so well was the 
enterprise conducted that when Mr Gird wished to retire in 1896, he was able to sell 
the balance of the ranch to an English syndicate for $2,500,000. 

The factory really began operations in 1891, when less than 2000 acres of beets 
were grown, and the average yield was only seven tons per acre, or a total product of 
13,000 tons, for which the farmers were paid about $51,000. During the season of 
1895, five thousand acres in this township were devoted to beets, while the product 
from 2500 acres more were hauled by rail about 75 miles from the Orange county dis- 
trict. The factory that year converted 83,000 tons of beets into sugar, for which the 
farmers were paid nearly $302,000. Most of the beets are grown within two miles of 
the factory, the longest wagon haul being eight miles, and the shortest half a mile. 
Over twenty million pounds of refined sugar was actually made and sold, exclusive of 
a little raw sugar and all molasses, etc, or an average of 249 lbs of refined sugar ob- 
tained and sold from each ton of beets, or 2747 lbs from each acre of beets. The land 
about the factory is peculiarly fitted for this industry, as seed can be planted very 
early on the uplands, and then in succession on the lower lands. Thus the factory 
can begin to work up the early crop in July, and in the absence of frost can run until 
the latest seeding is harvested in ISTovember. All pitting and storing of beets is thus 
saved— a most important consideration. The season of 1896 was the dryest in 20 
years, but the factory milled 63,000 tons of beets before closing down about Nov 1, 
part of the crop not being accepted. Chino fields furnished nearly 50,000 tons. 
With the usual rainfall. 80,000 tons of beets was to have been expected. The full 
details of the last campaign are not available at this writing, but here is a table giv- 








Tills building at the left Is for the Lan?e piles of broken limestone 

Steffens process of refinlMg. i„ tlie foreground. 

LIME KILNS AT CHINO BEET SUGAR FACTORY 



Three more iarire Kilns under 
cover to the right. 



1891 


1892 


1893 


1894 


1895 


1,800 


3,488 


4,191 


4,778 


7,528 


13,080 


26,266 


49,3.53 


43,773 


83,035 


7.2G 


7.50 


11.7 


9.16 


11.03. 


13 


U 


14 


15 


15 


1,888 


2,100 


3,276 


2.748 


3,30.T 


1,510 


1,680 


2,621 


2,198 


2,670 


Aug 20 


July 13 


July .31 


Aug 2 


July 9 


Oct 31 


Oct 11 


Nov 4 


Oct 24 


Nov 14 


73 


91 


97 


85 


129 


179 


288 


509 


526 


044 


28,108 


86,852 


15,.592 


111,431 


161,129 


1,026 


3,9.52 


7,532 


4,736 


10,393 


$3.90 


4.26 


4.26 


4.66 


4.35 


$28.37 


31.95 


49.84 


42.69 


47.98 



48 IHE SUGAK INDUSTRY. 

ing an immense amount oi! information about the industry and its growth. 

THE KESU1.TS AT CHINO FOK ITS FIKST FIVE YEAKS. 

Acres of beets grown, 

Tons of beets produced, 

Average yield of beets per acre, tons, 

Per cent of sugar in beets, 

*Crude sugar per acre, lbs, 

*Pure sugar ])er acre (80%), 

Began making sugar, 

Finislied making sugar. 

Days in ojieration, 

Average weight of beets worked daily, tons, 

Avei-age weight of sugar made daily, lbs, 

Total weight of sugar made, tons. 

Average paid farmers per ton beets. 

Average return per acre, 

♦Estimates or data figured by the author, the other facts being all furnished from tlie company's 
.books. The ton is of 2000 lbs. Gi-anulated sugar only was made in '91, raw sugar only in '92 .uid '9 J, 
while the product of '94 was all the best grade of refined white granulated sugar except 1009 tons 
(2,017,363 lbs) of raw sugar, and in '95 only 51 tons (102,286 lbs) of raws. 

Among the most successful beet growers for this factory are the brothers Gustaf- 
sen, who averaged 15 to 20 tons per acre. The Dethlefsen brothers averaged 20 tons per 
acre on 2.")0 acres in the comparatively poor season of 1896, and will double their area 
in 1897. They give their crop close personal attention, and no detail that will con- 
tribute to success is omitted. They have fully determined that there is a certain 
profit in intelligent beet culture, and well they may, for their net profits above all 
expenses and good pay for their own time and ability, have averaged over $30 per 
acre. 

To protect their interests at the factory, planters have a strong union, whicli 
chooses its own chemist, weigher and tare man to keep tab on the beets as delivered, 
to see that full weight is credited on each lot, and that the deduction for tare is not 
too large, while the chemist's duplicate analyses are a check on the factory tescs. At 
the annual meeting in December, 189G, of the Chino beet growers' union, numbering 
106 farmers, it was reported that 48,139 tons beets were harvested and marketed. 
The average price per ton was $3.78, representing a total of about $180,000 paid for 
this season's beets. The average sugar content was placed at 14 per cent. In addi- 
tion to the present membership, there are nearly 100 farmers who make a business of 
growing beets, and it is hoped these may also be brought into the union, in order to 
secure the best possible administration of the business affairs of growers. At the 
beginning of the season an assessment of 4c per ton was levied on all Chino beets to 
defray factory and office expenses of the uuion, including tare man and check chem- 
ist. The close of the season finds a surplus in the treasury which makes it possible 
to rebate lie per ton. Thus it cost less than 3c per ton harvested to carry on the 
business of the union. 

The Chino factory uses oil for fuel, from 75,000 to 100,000 barrels during a cam- 
paign, whi(;h comes through pipes from the oil company, 14 miles distant, although it 
is hoped to get a supply near by from oil wells on the ranch. It consumed 125,000 
tons of limestone in 1895, its 21 artesian wells furnished nearly 4,000,000 gallons of 




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OU THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

water daily and it paid $100,000 in wages to the 350 men employed in and about the 
factory. 

THE NE\y FACTORIES IN CALIFORNIA. 

Work is going forward on Mr Spreckels' immense plant at Salinas City. While it 
will have a capacity of some 3000 tons of beets per day of 24 hours, it will practically 
consist of three sets of machinery under one roof, each of 1000 tons capacity daily. 
Mr Spreckels will have to pay out $12, 000 a day for beets and $5000 daily for labor 
and other materials at the factory. According to this estimate, the daily e.x,penses 
will average no less than $17,000, or nearly $2,000,000 for a campaign of under four 
months. It was expected at first that this immense plant would be ready for the 1897 
crop and before it was decided upon, Mr Spreckels insisted on having contracts with 
farmers to grow 25, 000 acres of beets. It now appears that delays in making the 
machinery are such that the plant will not be in operation until 1808. While it will 
use the product from 25,000 to 35,000 acres of land annually, fully 100,000 acres will be 
involved, in order to permit the necessary rotation of crops. Farmers in the contigu- 
ous country, however, are ready to grow 100,000 acres of beets every year if factories 
are put up to work them. 

The Los Alamitos Sugar Co is building a large factory in the center of the Los 
Alamitos Rancho, which contains 6700 acres of choice sugar-beet land belonging to 
the Bixby Land Co, which has contracted to furnish the sugar company with its full 
complement of beets for a term of five years. This ranch lies about ten miles inland 
from the sea, near Los Angeles. The climate is perfect the year around. The soil is 
a deep, sandy, sub-irrigated loam, having been deposited for centuries by the over- 
flow of the San Gabriel river, and according to the artesian-well borings, its depth 
exceeds 400 feet. It is believed that there is sufficient moisture in the soil to produce 
beets in the dryest years without irrigation. The factory is being equipped entirely 
with American machinery by E. H. Dyer & Co of Cleveland, Ohio, who furnish both 
buildings and machinery and turn them over to the sugar company when in full oper- 
ation. The frame of the factory is of steel and the walls of brick and will be 
equipped to work off 350 tons of beets per day of the 1897 crop. The building is so 
large that more machinery can be added to double the present capacity at the mini- 
mum of additional expense. Great care has been given to so plan the building and 
machinery as to secure the utmost economy of labor and fuel. These works will han- 
dle 350 tons of beets per day with less than 100 men, and consume under fourteen per 
cent of lignite coal for fuel. A sectional view of the structure is given on Page 37. 

Many of the sugar factory propositions in California are awaiting tlie action of 
congress. Should it be favorable, several new enterprises will be established in time 
to handle thousands of additional acres of beets in '98. 

NEBRASKA. 

The efforts to establish the beet-sugar industry in Nebraska date back about ten 
years, and her experience is typical of the obstacles in the way of the industry. A 
factory was established at Grand Island in 1889, by the Oxnards, being aided by the 
gift of land and a cash bonus, while the state offered a bounty of one cent per pound 
on the sugar, which yielded the factory $7, 304 on the product of its first campaign 
on the crop of 1890. The law was repealed at the session of '91. Meanwhile the 



52 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

Oxnards had established another factory at Norfolk, in the northwestern part of 
Nebraska, but the farmers were siow to take hold of the industry, and with the re- 
peal of the state bounties and the national elections of '92 forecasting the repeal of 
the McKinley bounty and lower prices for beets, a decided set back was given to the 
industry. On top of this came the drouth year oi 1894, with disastrous results. The 
factories having been obliged to reduce the price from $5 to $4 per ton, not enough 
were planted to run the factories a reasonable length of time, even had the season 
been favorable. 

The state came to the rescue and by the act of March 25, 1895, offered a bounty of 
I" of a cent per pound on all sugar manufactured, provided the price of beets was 
raised from $4 to $5. This bounty therefore amounts to an extra bonus of $1 per ton 
on the beets to growers. Thus encouraged, 5000 acres were secured for the Norfolk 
factory and 4000 for the Grand Island factory for the 1895 crop. The spring was not 
favorable, the early summer was dry, but later fine-growing weather promised a mag- 
nificent crop. Then came what the beet planter dreads almost as much as the cane 
planter fears early frosts ; September opened with a general rain followed by a period 
of high temperature. The nearly ripened beets, responding to the moisture and 
warmth, began a period of growth, drawing sustenance from the sugar already stored. 
Before they could again begin elaborating sugar, a period of cold and cloudy weather 
set in, checking growth and leaving the beets in an immature condition as a result of 
these unprecedented climatic conditions. The result was that many beets were re- 
jected by the factory because, being below 12 per cent sugar and under 80 purity, it 
did not pay to work them at $4 per ton. This caused much dissatisfaction among 
growers, who at first complained that the factory tests were not reliable, but they 
employed a chemist of their own and also had analyses made by the state experiment 
station. This work supported and justified the results reported by the factory 
chemists, and convinced farmers that the fault was in the weather and not in the 
factory. 

But for the determined efforts of the Nebraska beet-sugar growers' association, it 
is possible that the whole industry might have stopped then and there. As the 
bounty was supposed to stand for another year, a grand effort was made to give the 
industry a thorough trial in 1896. The result was all that could be expectea. The 
crop was perfect in every particular, the weather in September, October and Novem- 
ber was as usual all that could be desired, and the factories -worked up over 75,000 
tons of beets. Farmers have made handsome profits on the 1896 crop, they feel that 
they have thoroughly mastered the culture of the sugar beet, and they offer to grow 
many more beets for 1897 than the factories can possibly work up, even should the 
beets be siloed so that the factories can run until March 1, as was the case at Norfolk 
on the 1896 crop. Growers who had contracts the past year want to double or triple 
their acreage and hundreds of others are anxious to raise beets on their own lands, or 
lease lands for the beet crop of 1897. And this in spite of the fact that Nebraska's 
supreme court has decided that the state bounty (of which $50,000 was paid on the '95 
crop) is not payable unless the legislature specifically appropriates the money there- 
for. Whether the state will pay this bountv of $1 per ton on the '96 crop is not yet 
settled, but it is evident that the state will not renevv the bounty, so that unless na- 



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54 THE SUGAK INDUSTliY. 

tional legislation and advancing prices for sugar increase its value, the price of beets 
for 1897 will be not over $4 per ton. That was the price for '96, the extra dollar being 
conditional upon the state paying the bounty. 

THE RECORD OF THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY IN NEBRASKA. 

The dry season of 1894 produced beets of a low water content that yielded an aver- 
age of 216 lbs of refined sugar to the ton, compared to 176 lbs the year before. In 
1895, on the other hand, late rains and a warm fall started a second growth which in- 
creased the size and weight at expense of sugar, which averaged only 150 pounds of 
refined to the ton. The average for the last campaign will be fully 200 lbs of refined 
suirar to the ton and will thus compare with previous years since the factory began 
operations : 





^Tons of beets worked-^ 


^Granulated sugar produced Ibs^ 


^No 


of growers --> 


Yeai- 


GI 


Norfolk 


Total 


GI 


Norfolk 


Total 


GI Norfolk 


Total 


1890, 


4,414 


— 


— 


736,400 


— 


— 


607 


— 


_ 


1891, 


10,868 


8,179 


19,047 


1,415,800 


1,318,700 


3,734,500 


408 


204 


613 


1892, 


13,055 


10,725 


33,780 


2,110,100 


1,693.400 


3,803,500 


240 


490 


730 


1893, 


11,150 


22,625 


33,775 


1,835,900 


4,107,300 


5,943.300 


135 


181 


316 


1894*, 


drouth 


25,633 


35,633 


— 


5.556,100 


5,556,100 


— 


534 


534 


1895, 


24,343 


31,194 


55,537 


2,983,400 


5,395,500 


8,378,900 


619 


698 


1317 


1896,t 


75,000 


— 


75,000 


- 


— 


15,000,000 


— 


— 


3000 



*General drouth made tonnage so small in 1894 that the beets belonging to tlie Grand Island factory 
district were worked up at tlie Norfolk factory, t Partly estimated. 

The average yield last year was 10 to 12 tons per acre, but some experienced grow- 
ers on richly manured bottom land had from IS to 25 tons per acre, and even more. 
Growers of beets for these factories are more or less scattered over the state, and 
much of the crop has to be hauled by rail. The freight is 30c per ton for distances of 
25 miles or less, 50c for 25 to 45 miles, and 80c for 45 to 100 miles, the rate being a lit- 
tle higher on another railroad, which exacts an additional charge of $2 per car for 
switching. The cars are loaded to their visible capacity. The factories paid about 
$300,000 for beets in '96, or $35 to $75 per acre and even more in a few instances. 
Renters pay $8 to $10 per acre per year for choice beet land. 

But for the splendid and persistent work of the Nebraska experiment station (es- 
pecially H. H. Nicholson), which conducted tests in all parts of the state and made 
thousands of analyses, and even conducted a sugar school, the present assured posi- 
tion of the business in Nebraska could not have been reached. The station has made 
10,000 analyses, the average of all being over 14 per cent of sugar in Nebraska beets. 
It is now certain that only moisture and proper culture are needed to enable the 
beet to be grown to perfection in almost any part of the state. There is a great 
demand for beet-sugar factories in almost every county in Nebraska. 

UTAH. 

Keen interest is felt in the beet-sugar industry all over this state, O'ving t<^ the 
established success of the (at present) only sugar factory in the whole inter-mountain 
region of the United States, at Lehi, a few miles south of Salt Lake City, Utah. 
Beets for sugar manufacturing can be ruined by a superabundance of moisture just at 
the ripening period. As sugar beets can be grown here only by irrigation, the indus- 
try at the outset was surrounded by new and peculiar conditions. The knowledge 
and science of beet growing (it is a science) were obtained from experts from Cali- 







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THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



fornia, but they were ignorant of the methods of irrigation, so it required the com- 
bined knowledge of the experienced beet growers of California and the skillful irriga- 
tors of Utah to successfully produce our first crop of sugar beets. But the problem 
has been most happily solved, and to-day Utah produces sugar beets that are fast ap- 
proaching in quality those of the oldest beet-growing countries. 

The growing of this plant is a departure from the usual methods of farming as 
practiced by the ordinary farmer, in that no part of it can be neglected, or even done 




MAP OF EASTERN NEBRASKA 
Showing location of tlie two beet siijrar factories at Norfolk and Graml 
Island, and principal points at wliich beets are grown for shipment. (From 
Bulletin 44, Nebraska exx^eriment station at Lincoln.) 

(n a haphazard sort of manner, without sacrificing the crop. It requires intensive 
cultivation in every sense, but it pays well, a larger cash return being obtained from 
one acre of beets than from three acres of grain. As the farmers gradually become 
more familiar with the crop, they steadily increase the yield in tons per acre as well 
as the sugar quality of the beet. 

The farmers of Utah for the first two years took hold of the beet industry cau- 
tiously and liahtly, preferring to carefully test its merits for themselves before risk- 
ing too much on a new crop. There were some failures and many successes, but they 
soon discovered its value, and the increased acreage offered since then has been so 
great that for the past two seasons the sugar company could not accept it all. At the 
present writing (March, 1896), there are already applications for over 1000 acres of 
beets more than can be accepted for the coming season of 1890. During the sugar 
campaign just closed, the Lehi factory received 33,108 tons of beets from 3300 acres, 
an average of 11.54 tons per acre; 300 acres averaged about 7 tons, 2000 acres about 11 



1891 


1892 


1893 


1894 


1895 


1,500 


1,500 


2,755 


2,850 


3,300 


9,960 


9,816 


26,800 


32,694 


38,108 


6.G 


65 


9.7 


11.47 


11.54 


11.0 


11.8 


ll.G 


12.7 


13.5 


80.0 


80.0 


79.5 


80.2 


81.5 


1,452 


1,534 


2,250 


2.913 


3,116 


1,102 


1,227 


1,719 


2,336 


2,539 


Oct 12 


Sept 26 


Sept 19 


Sept 25 


Sept 5 


Decs 


>fov 13 


Dec 21 


.Jan 5 


Dec 31 


58 


49 


94 


103 


118 



58 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

tons, while the remaining 1000 acres made about 14 tons per acre of trimmed beets 

delivered at factory. xVt $4.25 per ton, the farmers got nearly $162,000 for the crop, 

from which was made nearly 7,500,000 lbs of relined granulated white sugar. Com- 
pared with the previous years the following 

TABLE SHOWS THE PKOURESS OF THE INUUSTUY IN UTAH. 

Acres of beets grown. 

Tons of beets produced. 

Average yield of beets per acre, tons, 

Per cent of sugar In beets. 

Purity of sugar, per cent, 

*Crude sugar per acre, lbs, 

*Pure sugar per acre, lbs, 

Began making sugar, 

Finislied making sugar, 

Days in operation, « 

♦Estimates added by tlie author as matters of interest. About 45,000 tons of beets were worked la 
1896, for which $4.25 per ton was paid, or a total of about .'ji!l90,000; paid for labor at factory about $35,000, 
for coal $30,000 and for other supplies $25,000. 

The methods of manufacture have practically reached the same degree of perfec- 
tion in the successful factories of this country as they have in Europe, showing that 
the essential factor for the success of the beet-sugar indu.stry of America is the beet 
root itself. The factory at Lehi, Utah, was the first one to be planned and constructed 
by Americans and equipped throughout with American machinery. It certainly has 
many features of excellence to commend it over the European factories. The machin- 
ery of itself is more effective in many ways, and its arrangement is such that there is 
a saving of at least one-fourth the number of hands required in a European factory 
of the same capacity. During our campaign of 180.5, out of which 113 days were oc- 
cupied in cutting and working beets, it worked an average of oo7i tons per day, with 
a factory of only 300 tons guaranteed capacity. As appears from the table above, the 
length of a beet-sugar campaign is necessarily limited to a few weeks after the har- 
vesting period, for the beets cannot be kept very long without so deteriorating as to 
be unprofitable for manufacturing purposes, The total yearly expenses, therefore, of 
an investment of from one-half to three-quarters of a million of dollars, have to be 
made during a campaign of 90 to 110 days. 

The engravings herewith, from photographs taken e.specially for this work, give 
an admirable insight into this Utah enterprise. It was projected by men of Utah, 
who furnished all of the $600,000 invested in the plant, with its 1000 acres of land, 
Avith silos and pits for pulp and yards for feeding it to stock. Many shares in the 
factory are owned among the farmers, and it is in that sense co-operative. The two 
principal buildings are entirely of brick, the walls being two feet thick, the founda- 
tion laid deep, and the piers sustaining the main weight of the machinery being solid 
masonry resting on bed rock. The main building is lS0x84 feet, three stori>^s 
liigh. The annex is 184x60 feet. In the latter building are contained ten 
horizontal tubular boilers, with a generating capacity of 100 horse power 
each; twenty large char-fllter.s, char kiln with all the necessary apparatus for 
revivifying the bone charcoal, and the lime kiln, which treats about seventeen tons of 
lime rock each 24 hour.s, the carbonic acid gas having to be retained from the lime, as 
it is necessary m the manufacture of sugar. All the ground floors are solid concrete 



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60 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

and all the buildings are lighted with electric lights, which is generated on the prem- 
ises. There are two sugar store warehouses; one 75x40 feet, the other 125x40 feet, the 
total capacity of which is 40, 000 bags of sugar. The total weight of machinery is 
upwards of 1000 tons. 

So prosperous has Lehi become that in 1896 there was not a single delinquent tax- 
payer. This is a remarkable fact for any town, but especially for a western commu- 
nity which has more or less "floating" population. But the Lehi people are "stay- 
ers" since the sugar industry is established. 

NEW MEXICO. 

The Pecos Valley Beet Sugar Co established a factory at Eddy, New Mexico, late 
in 1896, and are planning for a 700-ton plant 75 miles north of that place, to be erected 
this year. The Eddy plant was late in starting, and from Nov 25 to Jan 1, '97, re- 
ceived 3706 tons of beets and the total supply was about 18,000 tons. Many farmers 
irrigated too much and others did not cultivate properly, but in spite of these obsta- 
cles the first crop averaged about 12 tons per acre on the 1500 acres grown, while some 
fields, properly worked, made nearly 20 tons per acre, the range in yield running gen- 
erally from 8 to 16 tons per acre. The sugar content ranged from 14 to 21 percent and 
over 80 purity, and the average for the total tonnage will "probably be close to 16 per 
cent." Elnough has been done to indicate that the arid southwest is likely to prove 
well adapted to the sugar beet. In spite of the unusual winter weather, in spite of a 
late start in making sugar, and in spite of all the numerous obstacles that beset such 
an enterprise the first season in a new country, the company report that their ' 'most 
sanguine expectations are being realized." Making every discount possible for the 
claims of interested parties, it is evident that a brilliant start has been made for the 
Pecos Valley sugar industry. Seldom, if ever, has an enterprise of this kind in the 
United States done as well its first year. 

WISCONSIN. 

A sugar factory was erected at Menomonee Falls, Waukesha Co, Wis, about fifteen 
miles northwest of Milwaukee, in 1896. The enterprise was due to the efforts of Mr 
K. G. Korn, who has patiently worked for years to develop the enterprise. He is 
the general manager, having entire charge of designing the factory and building and 
installing the mai-hinery. He gave his time to the work without pay until the factory 
was in operation and had the machinery built at machine shops in Milwaukee. On 
account of the disturbance in financial affairs, the factory was not ready for business 
until January, '97, but it had nearly 18,000 tons of beets in silos waiting to be manu- 
factured into sugar, as illustrated and described on Page 61. The campaign closed late 
in March, '97, with a satisfactory run up to latest reports. The greatest difficulty Mr 
Korn found was to get farmers to grow the beets, but after an 18-months' canvass he 
succeeded in getting a ten years' contract for growing 2500 acres of beets from 350 
farmers within a radius of ten miles of the factory. The contract agrees to pay $4 
per ton for all beets testing 12 per cent sugar, $5 for those testing 16 per cent, and an 
annual premium of $50 for the best grown field of beets. An average test from several 
of the largest crops of '96 show from 121 to 131 per cent sugar, and it is believed that 



62 • THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

the yield will average 12 to 14 tons per acre; many raised 15 to IS tons per acre, and 
one crop made 23 tons of good beets per acre. The factory, illustrated on Page 61, 
has a capacity of 275 tons of beets per day of 24 hours. 

Tliis factory is the outcome of elaborate inquiries conducted by the Wisconsin ex- 
periment station that show almost the entire state to be wonderfully adapted to the 
sugar beet. The beet ripens ordinarily by Sept 15 or 20, and until Nov 10 there is 
little danger from cold, but after that silos will ^be necessary if a factory is to run 
much over 60 days. Hundreds of pounds of beets have been grown all over the state 
and analyzed at the station, showing total averages of from 121 to 14i per cent of 
sugar, while many samples ran up to 18 per cent and the co-efficient of purity aver- 
aged over 80. The Vilmorin gave the richest sugar and the Despez Richest the next. 
As a I'esult of all this work, there is a deep interest in the sugar question. 

OTHER STATES. 

So much fo'' results in states in which beet sugar factories are already in opera- 
tion. In many other states much work has been done in growing beets to test the 
adaptability of the soil to this crop. Thousands of analyses have been made by the 
United States department of agriculture and by several of the state experiment sta 
tions. It is evident from all this work during the past ten years that beets can be 
commercially grown at a profit over most of the vast area indicated in Map No o,[fron- 
tispiece — from the Hudson to the Pacific, from the Carolinas to the Lakes. We do 
not advocate the industry for New England, because the limited areas suitable for 
beet culture can hardly compete with the wider areas and more fertile soils of the 
middle and western states. 

New York — AVe did nothing in the way of testing sugar beets in 1895. In the 
spring of 1894, we sent out 45 packages of seeds to the various counties of the state. 
The following table sets forth in brief the average weight of beets, the average yield 
per acre, the per cent of sugar and the aA^erage yield per acre of sugar of three varie- 
ties in 1894 : 





Average 


Average 


Average 


Average 




weight in ounces 


yield in tons 


% 


sugar 


yield of sugar 


Variety 


per beet 


per acre 






per acre 


Mette, 


32.7G 


26.5 




10.05 


5326.5 lbs 2.66 tons 


Vilmoiin's Imperial, 


34.16 


34 




6.92 


4705 " 2.35 " 


D K'wanz, 


30.50 


24.77 




9.38 


4246.5 " 2.12 " 


Average of all. 


32.50 


28.42 




8.78 


4759.4 lbs 2.37 tons 



These plots were small, and it is to be supposed that the yield was much larger 
bhan could have been secured on large areas and that the beets selected were larger 
than the average. During the season the beets stopped growing in midsummer, and 
became nearly ripe. Fall rains started them 'to growing most vigorously and they 
put out new leaves, which without doubt greatly diminished the sugar content. The 
largest yield (D. K'wanz) was 56 tons per acre with 8.5 per cent of .sugar. The next 
largest (Vilmorin's Imp) was 54 tons with 5.05 per cent sugar. Westchester county 
reported a yield of 12 tons and 12. 7 per cent sugar of the variety Vilmorin's Im- 
proved, and Seneca county tons with 5.7 per cent sugar. The yields and per cent 
of sugar were extremely variable. In 1893, eight plots of Dippe's Kleinwanzlebener, 
in various counties, gave an average of 21 tons with 12.86 per cent sugar. Twelve 



04 THE SUGAR INDUSTKY. 

plots of Knauer's Imperial, variously distributed, gave an average of 26 tons with 
12.0 per cent sugar. Seven plots of Vilmorin's Richest gave 14 tons with 13.2 per 
cent sugar. Clay soils gave 13 tons with 12.5 per cent of sugar (all varieties); clay 
loam 22 tons with 13.1 per cent sugar, and sandy loam and gravel 28 tons with 12.6 
per cent sugar. We now have two imported varieties growing which will be tested 
Liter. — [Prof I. P. Roberts, director of Cornell agricultural experiment station and 
professor of agriculture in Cornell university. 

Middle States— Comparatively little has been done in Pennsylvania. In New 
Jersey, Maryland and Delaware, no proper tests in beet culture have been made re- 
cently, but good beets were grown in the 70' s, and there is no reason why the crop 
should not thrive on certain soils properly fertilized. Recent Maryland tests have not 
given promising results. 

Ohio— The experiment station has done little in this line, but private tests are 
encouraging, and thousands will be made in 1897. 

Missouri— J n 1890, on upland limestone clay loam of average fertility in Boone 
county, yield per acre highest 19 tons, lowest 12, average 15; sugar, highest 18 per 
cent, lowest 10, average 14. In 1891, same farm, yield 8 to 12 tons, average 10; sugar 
7 to 14 per cent, average lU. In '92, tests were made in live northwestern counties, 
northeast nine counties, southwest Ave, southeast one county, ,representing seven dif- 
ferent varieties and 55 samples : Per cent of sugar in beets, highest 19, lowest 4.6, 
average 9.8; purity, 47.5 to 79.3 per cent, averaging 67.3. These varieties at the sta- 
tion in Boone county that year yielded 9 to 12 tons per acre, mean 8.8 tons; per cent 
of sugar 7 to 13, average 11; purity 65 to 75, average 70. Director Waters says : 
"Results thus far not encouraging, soil much too compact and hard ; Missouri lies 
south of best sugar belt, mean summer temperature 6 per cent higher than in 
counties producing this crop most successfully. " We suggest much more work for 
several seasons before throwing Missouri out of the sugar belt. 

Oklahoma— Little work done. Director Morrow "believes climatic conditions 
give little prospect of success." But if beets do wonders in Pecos valley, N M, they 
ought to be tested thoroughly in Oklahoma. This also applies to Indian Territory. 

Kaxsas— Many plots of sugar beets grown at state experiment stations at Man- 
hattan and other parts of state, '90-2. First year not conclusive; 360 tests in 56 coun- 
ties were unsatisfactory in '91, owing to climatic conditions. For '92, the station and 
85 fanners over the state raised beets, but the season was again unfavorable and the 
results "cannot be regarded as lending great encouragement to the hope of the suc- 
cessful establishment of the beet-sugar industry m this state. There are, however, a 
considerable number of samples showing a high percentage of sugar." More work is 
needed and evidently irrigation or other insurance against drouth is required. 

South Dakota— Experiments were conducted in every county, 1889-93, results in 
four bulletins, of which Nos 27 and 34 can still be supplied. Yield 10 to over 40 tons 
of beets per acre on acre plots running from 15 to 20 tons as a fair average; sugar 
content 9 to 20 per cent, very few samples below 12 mostly 13 to Ti6 per cent, thi-ee- 
quarters of all samples showing 16 per cent sugar or more. Chemist J. H. Shepard 



06 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

concludes: "The state is well adapted to sugar-beet culture, tonnage very high, pu- 
rity co-elHcient quite satisfactory, averaging about 85." 

NoiiTii Dakota— E. F. Ladd, chemist, reports analyses of beets grown in '91 
from 129 farms in all parts of state, yielding estimated average of lo tons per acre, 
containing 7 to 18 per cent sugar, average 11.43, purity 4U to 98. In '92, Prof Ladd 
believed other crops would be more profitable in most of the states; his letter in the 
fall of '90 expresses no opinion. But further private tests and experimentfe in Utah, 
Nebraska and Wisconsin, prove beyond question that the beet sugar industry can be 
made a great success in most parts of North Dakota. 

Michigan — Tests were made all over the state in 1891. Season was unfavorable, 
drouth serious, results conflicting. In western counties 28 farmers reported an aver- 
age of 15 tons of beets per acre containing over 14 per cent sugar; southeast, 21 re- 
ports averaged IH tons and VH per cent sugar; central, 40 reports averaged 13 tons of 
14i per cent sugar; northeastern, 49 reports averaged 15 tons and 13i per cent sugar. 
This makes a promising outlook for both farmer and manufacturer, especially in 
southern Michigan. See Bulletin 382, Experiment Station, Agricultural College P O. 

Indiana — About 300 analyses reported (by H A.Huston, chemist) of beets grown 
in 150 different localities all over the state in 1889-94, show highest yields of 12 to 42 
tons per acre, lowest 3 to 13 tons; sugar, in juice, highest 14 to 18 per cent, lowest 5 
to 10; purity, highest 87 to 90, lowest 58 to 70. Small plot tests prior to '94; that 
year, ten fields of i to 1 acre averaged 19 tons per acre, and half of these fields gave 
beets of quality sufiicient for sugar manufacture. Chemist Huston adds: "Beets of 
satisfactory quality can be grown in all parts of Indiana. With one exception, all 
correspondents who Jiave raised beets in large plots believe that at $4 per ton this 
crop would pay a profit." H. Cordez, who has been working for two years to estab- 
lish a factory near Evansv'lle, southern Indiana, obtained 15^ and 10 per cent sugar 
of 85 to 90 purity in small plot tests in '96. 

Illinois — Because farmers failed to raise enougli beets to run the factory at 
Freeport many years ago, and because on some soils the crop did not seem to thrive, 
the impression has gone out that this state could not grow beets. The experiment 
station has done very little to ascertain the truth. Until the matter has been as 
widely test'ed as in Minnesota or Wisconsin, correct judgment cannot be formed. 
Until such tests prove to the contrary, we shall believe Illinois has thousands of acres 
that can be I'eadily adapted to this crop. 

Minnesota (Prof Henry Snyder)— It has been the aim of the state experiment 
station to test, in as thorough and impartial a way as possible, the adaptability of 
Minnesota's soil and climate to the growing of sugar beets. The work has been car- 
ried on for eight years, during which time 1079 samples of sugar beets have been ana- 
lyzed, showing of sugar 10 to 20 per cent, an average of 14 per c^nt; purity 70 to 94. 
an average of 80i. The beets have been grown in a large number of counties through- 
out the state. It is believed that the experiment station has demonstrated that sugar 
beets, with a high per cent of sugar and co-efticient of purity, can be raised in Min- 
nesota, at a cost of $2 to $3 per ton. The average yield per acre was 15 tons. 

Iowa— For the purpose of ascertaining by repeated experimentation how well 
Iowa is adapted to growing sugar beets, we began in 1891 and have grown and tested 



68 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

sugar beets every year since that time. We have probably three or four acres grow- 
ing on the station grounds at present. Seed has been sent to a majority of the coun- 
ties of the state, so as to give us wide and comprehensive reports regarding the abil- 
ity of our state in its several counties to grow beets with a sufficient percentage of 
sugar to make the industry proHtable. 

We also, in 1S91, conducted an experiment on the college grounds with a piece of 
land over an acre in extent, having different kinds of soil and treated different ways, 
so as to ascertain what soil is best and what method of cultivation is advisable. 
From the whole lield, we got an average of 20 tons to the acre with 14.14 per cent 
sugar in the beets, and 76 per cent average purity of juice. We grew this field of 
beets under twelve different conditions. We used different kinds of fertilizers on 
three pieces, but got no evident benelic; we got our highest average of sugar from 
the piece of ground from which w.)ods had been cleared off, 15.17 per cent of sugar 
with 82.3 purity of juice. We let one part of the field on low, rich loam grow the 
beets as large as we could possibly grow them by thinning them out; the average pu- 
rity of juice went down to 72.8 and the sugar in the beet was 11. 52. Only three of 
the twelve conditions gave us sugar in the beet under 13 per cent. We got the great- 
est tonnage from early planting; subsoiling gave us the best shaped beets. The per- 
centage of sugar was affected by rains in October causing a second growth. Our high- 
est analyses came from beets averaging 13 ounces trimmed, and yielding 12 and 13 
tons per acre; our highest yield of sugar per acre came from beets averaging 21 
ounces trimmed, and yielding over 2S tons to the acre. Clay soil gave us the highest 
per cent of sugar, comparativelj higher ])unty, and lowest tonnage per acre. We had 
110 distinctively sandy soil. 

Reports from different counties in the htate show a wide range of sugar per cent 
and purity co-efficient. The highest we have received coraes from Muscatine county; 
over a hundred farmers reported from that county in ISOl. About 10 per cent re- 
ported a sugar per cent under 12, while half of the number re])ort the sugar in the 
beet over 15 per cent, and some run as high as 19 per cent. 

I have no doubt that a large area within the state will grow sugar beets profita- 
bly. The purity of the juice is not as high in our state in all parts as it is in others, 
but the yield per acre has much to do with the protitableness of the crop, and from 
reports of the growth of beets west of us, 1 am satisfied that our tonnage is much 
heavier than is common in drier states. Iowa soil is so well supplied with plant food 
of all kinds, organic and mineral, that no fertilization is required. We sent to Louis- 
iana and got the most approved sugar-cane-growing fertilizers, but were unable to see 
any improvfinent whatever from their application. Our soil has abundant lime, pot 
ash, phosphoric acid and nitrogenous compounds, so that apparently only capital 
and skill are necessary to make all of the sugar in Iowa Ihat the United States may 
require.— [.Tames Wilson, (Director Iowa experiment station; Professor of Agriculture 
Iowa Agricultural college; Secretary of Agriculture for the Ignited States— 1807-1001). 

TX THE AVKST. 

There is no longer a shadow of a doubt as to the adaptability of vast areas to the 
sugar beet, although it is true that more extended experiments are necessary in some 
sections to further demonstrate the quantity and quality that can be raised. Espe- 



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70 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

cially is this true in Montana, wliere pi'acticully nothing was done in this line until 
the past year. In Wyoming, on the other hand, many tests were made 1891-5, show- 
ing average yields of from 8 to 14 tons per acre, an average sugar content of from 16 
to 17 per cent with from 78 to 83 purity. Summarizing all this work done by the 
state experiment station at Laramie, Prof Butfum concludes that "the yield averages 
sufficient to make it a proli table crop, while the beets are of better quality than in 
many states where factories are successfully operated." 

In Colorado, more than 50 localities have grown beets and the conditions have 
proven favorable everywhere under 7000 ft altitude, though best under 6000 ft, when 
the ground and crop are properly handled. Co-efficient of purity is good. The yield 
runs from 10 to 15 per cent of sucrose, averaging fully 18 per cent, and under'proper 
conditions much more than that. Results in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Cali- 
fornia have already been' enumerated. 

In Idaho, the yield runs from 10 to 26 tons per acre with a large sugar content of 
high purity. In Washington, very fortunately, a great number of experiments 
have been conducted in most parts' of the state under the auspices of the state exper- 
iment station at Pullman. Over 1700 analyses have been made, showing an average of 
more than 15 per cent sugar of nearly 84 purity. The beets from almost every county 
closely approximate this standard. It is a remarkable showing and demonstrates be- 
yond a peradventure that the state of Washington is singularly adapted to the indus- 
try. The average yield per acre is not reported, but Prof Fulmer says: "It is proba- 
ble that an average of 20 tons per acre would be a conservative estimate." Allowing 
for the extraordinary richness of Washington soil, it is probable that this is rather 
high. In Oregon, tests were conducted for three years 1891-3, and again last year, 
showing that beets raised under all sorts of conditions varied from 8 to 22i per cent 
sugar in the juice of above 80 purity. Prof G. W. Shaw's analysis of beets grown by 
an expert in Washington county the past year averaged lOi to nearly 18 per cent 
sugar of 88 to 91 purity, and even after the second rains in the fall these beets aver- 
aged over 12 and 80. Prof Shaw believes that even west of the Cascade mountains, 
the earlier crops of beets would be harvested before the fall rains start a second 
growth, and that even in that region as well as east of it, the state is wonderfully 
adapted to the sugar beet. 

IX TIIK SOUTH. 

Virginia — Mr O. K. Lapam, who operated a small factory at Staunton, Va, for two 
or three seasons, until it was burned, is enthusiastic over the possibilities of the indus- 
try in this section. The bee<"s averaged 14 to 14i per cent of sugar and yielded an aver- 
age of from 12 to 13 tons per acre, at a cost of from $10 to $40 per acre including delivery 
of beets to factory and fertilizers as well as all other expenses. lie estimates the aver- 
age cost- at $25 to $30 per acre in the south when beets are grown within five miles of 
the factory. At $4 per ton and an average of 12i tons per acre, the income would be 
$50 per acre. To this should be added six tons of pulp, worth to the farmer $2 per ton 
or $12 per acre, while the improvement of his land by deep tillage and thorough de- 
struction ol: weeds is at least $5 more. The crop which follows beets will yield 50 per 



TUE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 71 

cent more than on the same land not having been previously used for beets. Mr 
Lapham "knows of no industry more needed in the south than this to improve the 
land, while insuring a sure and prohtable return to the farmer, and incidentally 
benefiting all classes connected with it." 

In North Carolina, sugar beets have not been tested since '87-8, when the results 
were discouraging. Director H. B. Battle of the experiment station at lialeigh says : 
"Should there be a demand for the produce for manufacturing sugar, the cultivation 
could be rapidly and successfully developed." 

In Kentucky, Director M. A. Scovell of the experiment station at Lexington is 
not hopeful of results, owing to the comparatively low sugar content, but H. Cordez 
cultivated three kinds of sugar beets on an alluvial soil in Green Kiver valley, west- 
ern Kentucky, in '90, which showed 10 to Hi per cent sugar of more than 80 degrees 
purity, and he is very confident that the crop will thrive over much of this state. 

In Tennessee, Secretary Vanderford of the state experiment station at Knoxville, 
writes: "I am satisfied that there are areas of considerable extent in all divisions of 
the state, and particularly in west Tennessee, where sugar beets of more than aver- 
age sucrose content and of high purity can be grown at an average cost of $3 per 
ton or less. Under adverse conditions, upon an unsuitable soil on our station farm, 
we have demonstrated that sugar beets can be made profitable in Tennessee." 

The Arkansas station reports having grown sugar beets in three parts of the state 
but the yield and sugar content were varying and unsatisfactory. "The temperature 
is hardly suitable in this state, except perhaps in the northwestern part," say Direc- 
tor Bennett, but we would suggest more exhaustive inquiry before accepting the ac- 
curacy of this opinion. 

Prof W. C. Stubbs writes: "It is doubtful whether the sugar beet can be grown 
south of the Ohio river with profit. Our experiments in Louisiana have clearly 
shown that no reliance can be placed on the sugar beet crop in this state. This is due 
to the fact that frequently beets are planted here in the fall and are grown throughout 
the entire winter. It is with us more of a fall and winter crop than a summer "crop, 
and since sunshine is needed to elaborate the sugar, it is rarely that we find beets 
here rich in saccharine matter." 

No tests are on record as to the adaptability of the soils and climates of northern 
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina to the sugar beet, although it is 
probable that the crop will be widely tested all through these regions. 

In Texas rich beets are raised in the temperate climate of the semi-arid region 
under irrigation, but in the warmer and more humid part cane does better, as b'eets 
here are poor in sugar. 

Certain practical men, who have had large experience in sugar-beet culture and 
manufacture in this country and who are also acquainted with European conditions, 
are strong in the belief that the middle south, meaning especially Virginia, West Vir- 
ginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, will yet prove to be a fine location for the beet sugar 
industry, because of the long season, abundance of sunshine, nearness to market 
and other conditions. 




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CHAPTER III. 
CULTURE OF THE SUGAR BEET. 

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. 

EETS THRIVE BEST in a temperate climate, which in 
che United States covers a vast area. While the 
plant develops under a great variety of vreather con- 
ditions, more recent experience seems to confirm in a 
measure the previously accepted theory that the sugar 
beet as a rule does best in regions where the average 
temperature for the months of June, July and Au- 
gust is about 70 degrees F. This isothermal line has 
been carefully determined by the United States de- 
partment of agriculture and is indicated on map No 3. 
"^ ' (See frontispiece. ) Dr Wiley in 1890 regarded the 

sugar beet belt as extending about 100 miles on each side of this line. Experience 
since shows that the area adapted to this crop is by no means limited to this belt and 
that it is far larger than has been supposed. The map referred to indicates in a 
general way the area in which both soils and climates can be found peculiarly adapt- 
ed to the sugar beet. 

Sunshine is required to make sugar. Hence, the number of clear and sunshiny 
days that can usually be depended upon in any section is an important consideration, 
which has not been sufficiently emphasized in much of the literature heretofore pub- 
lished. This explains the advantage of many i)arts of the so-called arid Avest for this 
industry, especially California and the Southwest. 

Another important climatic consideration is favorable weather during the ripen- 
ing and harvesting period. Clear sunshine, absence of fogs and moisturp, are impor- 
tant at this period. We have seen how in 1895 a fine crop of sugar beets in Nebraska 
was almost ruined by a warm, wet spell early in the harvesting time. While this is 
unusual in many of the eastern and central states, it is liable to occur in most of the 
country east of the 100th meridian. Such weather starts a new growth of the beets 
that consumes the sugar or changes it to starch, and it requires several days of sharp 
sunshine and warmth, without too much humidity, to restore the sugar content. 

The beet must also have sufficient moisture at the right time to produce the best 
results. This moisture must come either from the rainfall, from irrigation or "the 
soil must be of that peculiar quality that will allow subterranean moisture to reach 
the rootlets of the plant," which is the case in parts of California and some other 
states. While proper cultivation of a subsoil soil will enable the beet to thrive with 



74 THE SUGAR IKDL'STKT. 

more or less water, Wiley maintains that an average summer precipitation of 2 to 4 
inches per month is desirable. Nebraska experience shows that a good crop is as- 
sured, provided other things are done properly, if May and June are warm and not 
too wet, July and August wet and not too hot, September and October warm and 
dry. 

The longer the season the more favorable to this industry. In California, plant- 
ing begins as early as January on the higher and dryer soils and continues until June 
on the lower and more moist lands, thus maturing the crop continually from about the 
first of August to almost the new year. In the vicinity of VVatsonville, planting of the 
'97 crop began as early as Jan 15, while the last of the '96 crop was hardly out of the 
ground on the last day of the year. In other parts of the country, the planting has to 
be done in a short time, usually during May, because the ground is too cold and later 
the season will be so short as to prevent maturity before frost. 

Another advantage in the mild climate is the longer })eriod of harvesting. As 
just noted in California, beets may be harvested during the last five months of the 
year, whereas in most other sections, the digging must be completed before hard 
frosts. It has been assumed that beets would keep longer in the mild winter of Cali- 
fornia (where frost is almost unknown) than in the severe winters of the north and 
east. It has been customary to keep the beets in cold climates in silos but Utah ex- 
perience during the winter of '9G-7 indicates that such protection against cold may 
not be as necessary as has been supposed. This point is further discussed under the 
head of storing beets. Certain it is that a climate which allows a factory to run from 
100 to 150 days in ordinary seasons is far more advantageous than sections where the 
mill can not have good beets to run on more than SO or 100 days. 

VARIETIES OF BEETS. 

"All kinds of sugar beets are botanically identical with the common garden beet. 
Beta vulgaris. The differences in varieties have arisen by reason of special selection 
and culture producing a pure strain of some valuable peculiarity in the beet. These 
ac[iideatal valuable qualities by careful selection have become fixed and are associ- 
ated with certain external properties which have thus come to be regarded as distin- 
guishing characteristics. 

"The shape and size of the beet, its color, the characteV of its foliage, whether 
erect or spreading, etc, are the most frequent marks of distinction. The beets are 
also frequently designated by the names of those who have developed them, or by 
the name of the town or locality in Europe in which they have been grown, or by 
their color. 

"Among the more frequently occurring varieties grown in Europe may be men- 
tioned the Vilmorin Improved, Klein Wanzlebener, Improved Klein Wanzlebener, 
White Excelsior, White Imperial, Simon Le Grande, Floriraond and Bulteau Desprez 
llichest, Brabrant Sugar Beet, Eose Imperial, White Silesian, etc, 

"The two varieties which have been most widely grown in this country are the 
Vilmorin Improved and the Klein Wanzlebener. The certainty that the seed has 
been grown according to the most scientific methods is of greater importance to the 
beet grower than the variety. The beet has reached such a high state of perfection 




A POOR BEET, 
Of large size and great tonnage per acre, but 
(leflcient in sugar, containing niucli woody 
fiber, improperly topped, and higlily undesirable 
for factory purposes. Such beets weigh i to 6 
lbs. and contain 5 to 8% sugar. 



A GOOD BEET. 
This beet is not quite so fine a type as that 
shown on Page 32, but it is rich in suaar, 
containing 13 to 1G% or more, weighs II.2 to 2 
lbs, it is properly topped, and is just what the 
sugar factory wants. 



The pictures are reproduced from liuUetin 13, Nebraska experiment station. 



76 



THE SUGAK INDUSTKY. 



as to make the least degi-ee of laxity in its treatment exceedingly dangerous to its 
qualities." 

The two kinds named are preferred in California, Nebraska prefers Dippe la plus 
Riche, Dippe Klein Wanzlebener, Original Klein Wanzlebener, and Vilmorin's Im- 
proved White. The two latter varieties are mainly gi;own in Utah. 

No variety of sugar beet is suited to all conditions. Different soils and treatment 
make peculiar demands upon the variety. Experience with varieties in other parts of 
this or foreign countries is not a safe guide. The only practical way is to find out by 
actual experiment on each farm which variety does the best in yield and quality un- 
der its conditions. The seed must be good— of strong germinating power. "Cheap" 




CROSS-SECTION OF BEET 

lUustratea on page 32. This cross-section is life size at the jjoint of largest diameter. The dotted lines show the 

concentric rings of growth. 



seed is in the end the most costly. This country is producing some seed now, and in 
a few years will doubtless grow all its beet seed, as discussed later in this chapter. 

Size of Beet — It is generally considered that large beets, weighing more than 
3 lbs, are usually of poor quality. This depends entirely upon the soil upon which 
they are grown, and upon the variety of seed. As a general rule, however, it can be 
said that the large beets are lower in quality than small ones. The size most desired 
is from H to 2 lbs in weight. Where beets are too large or too poor in quality 
to be worked at the factory, they can be utilized for stock feed. For this purpose the 
beets are considered in France worth 75 per cent as much as the price that is paid 
for them for sugar making. In France, almost twice as many beets are grown for 







FAIRLY GOOD BEETS.— NEBRASKA. 




POOR BEETS.-NEBRASKA. 



Ihe first plate represents beets of White Silesian variety grown on good soil and witli proper care 
and plenty of cultivation. The beets are of good form and show good characteristics, and would be 
sought after by factory. The second plate represents beets of While Silesian variety grown on same 
soil from same kind of seed, but without proiier care and with insufficient cultivation. They have no 
goodcharaeterislics, and are dreaded by factory, and are only lit for forage purposes. From Bulletin 
16, Nebraska experiment station. 



78 THE SUGAK INDUSTRY, 

Stock food as for sugar. In that country the leaves are sold to adulterate tobacco and 
it is said that in some cases fully enough to pay for the expenses of cultivation. 

SOILS FOR THE SUGAR IJEET. 

This plant thrives on a wide v;iriety of soils. In Virginia, a warm clay or slaty 
soil, mixed with some sand and having a depth of 15 inches or more, gave the best re- 
sults. In other states where the industry is not yet established, experiment shows 
that the plant thrives on nearly all kinds of lands. But never select poor land— use 
the best soils available. It seems to do best in these regions on what farmers ordina- 
rily call good potato or corn land. The soil must be well drained, for while the beet 
requires abundant moisture during the growing period, it does not thrive with "wet 
feet." It therefore does much better in some soils than in others. The soil must 
possess good depth, for the beet is a deep-rooting plant, going down 12 to 18 inches. 

In Nebraska, the best soil to pi'oduce a large tonnage is the so-called bottom land. 
Hilly land produces generally a better quality, but does not come up as well in quan- 
tity. The more lime the soil contains the richer the beets would be. Under no cir- 
cumstances should seed be planted in soil which is sandy enough to blow. In Utah, 
and also in the Pecos valley, where one has plenty of water for irrigation, a nice 
sandy loam is preferred, but if the water supply is scant a clayey soil is better. 

In California, the rich, strong, sandy loams that produce heavy crops of wheat 
and barley yield 15 to 25 tons of rich beets per acre under proper rotation, but lower 
lands, when well drained of wet or that enjoy natural sub-irrigation from the lower 
stores of water, are often still better. It has been found at Chino that even when the 
lower or more moist lands contain as much as 12,000 lbs of alkali salts per acre to the 
depth of three feet, the beet does well in yield and quality, provided the amount of 
common salt in the soil does not exceed 0.04 per cent or 1500 lbs per acre to the depth 
of three feet. But it is wisest to verify on a small scale the adaptability of doubtful 
land before planting a large area of it. 

New land, by which we understand land that has only been broken one or tAvo 
years, should never be chosen for beets, as it produces a crop inferior in yield and 
quality. In Utah, the best results in sugar and purity are obtained from land that has 
been in small grain and the best tonnage is obtained from land that has previously 
had potatoes. Alfalfa land is good for beets, provided two crops of small grain are 
llrst grown upon it to get rid of the roots. For preparing new land for beets, noth- 
ing is better than to first plant alfalfa or field peas, the latter to be plowed under 
when in flower. Sage brush or mesquite land is excellent, provided it is thoroughly 
subdued bj' preparatoi^ crops, and can be irrigated. 

It is also important that the soil be such that the beets can be easily extracted 
from the ground by a beet puller or plow without breaking the root and without hav- 
ing a lot of soil adhere to it. In this particular, the sandy loam is ideal. To dig the 
root from a clay or adobe soil is hard work; in such soils the beet tip often breaks off 
when ripe, and much soil adheres to the beets, thus adding to the freight and to the 
"tare." 

ROTATION OF CROPS. 

This is highly important. Beets may do well year after year on the same land, 
especially if properly manured, but the constant draft upon the soil for the same pro- 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 79 

portions and kinds of food wliich this plan involves, must soon impair results. Three 
crops in succession in Nebraska's rich soil showed marked deterioration in quality 
Constant cropping with beets also tends to perpetuate or multiply any pests (insect 
or tangus) of this plant. It is true that beets have been grown continuously on the 
same land in California for a dozen years, without apparent injury lo yield or qual- 





TYPES OF SUBSOIL PLOWS 

To follow iu tlie furrow after the first plowing by ordiuary i)Iows 



GANG PLOW WITH SUBSOTLTNG ATTACHMENT, 
ity, but this does not gainsay the axiom above laid down. Thus far, best tonnage 
and quality have been secured in California from beets grown on the land everv third 
year, and in Nebraska every fourth year. 

New land should be subdued, as stated on Page 78, before being grown to beets 
This crop should always follow corn or small grain, because these being harvested 
early, the land is free for the fall plowing that is absolutely essential to best results 
with the beet. In Nebraska corn does not seem to do well after beets, neither 



.80 THE SUGAR IXDUSTKV. 

should potatoes or other gross potash-feeders immediately precede or follow beets. 
The best rotation in Nebraska is (1) beets, (2) wheat or oats, (3) corn, (4) wheat or 
oats or barley, (5) beets. If beets are wanted every third year, the Nebraska rotation 
is (1) beets, (2) small grain, (:^) corn, (4) beets. Utah experience with rotations is 
limited. 

In northern California, beets follow birley most admirably, wheat being the next 
crop — (1) beets, (2) wheat, {'■'>) barley, (4) beets. Much is yet to be learned about 
the best rotations under American conditions, but one including one or two crops of 
clover or alfalfa will usually be found excellent. Instead of giving small grains the 
second year, a few Nebraska fnrmers prefer to allow the land to remain fallow, plow- 
ing it live or f^ix times to prevent a growth of,weeds, then cultivating only in spring 
before seeding. 

FKtIHXG TlIK TLANT. 

The sugar beet has thus far been mainly grown in America for commercial ]>ur- 
poses on comparatively virgin soils at the west without fertilization. In Europe, on 
tin* other hand, the liberal use of fertilizers is essential. It is already being found 
that even our virgin soils will deteriorate if there is not put back upoii the land the 
plant food taken from it by the crou. While the beet takes comparatively large quan- 
tities of plant food from the soil, much of this can be returned to the land if the 
pulp and tops are fed to stock and the solid and liquid excrement applied to the soil. 
The lime cake and the bone black from the sugar factory should also be used. 

A\ KKA(;F, ynANTITIV:s <iK I'l.ANr KukK HK.MoVKK in IKim I'OUNDS KACH OF liKET ItOOTS AM) BEET LEAVES. 

Kocits Leaves Total 

Conslitiieiits lbs Uis lbs 

Fotasli, 3.3 0.5 9.8 

Pliosplioiic aeid, 0.8 1.3 2.1 

Mai^iiesia, 0.5 3.0 3.5 

Toialasli*, 7.1 18.1 25.2 

Nitrogen, l.G 3.9 4.5 

*Tli<> a.;h inohules a large i)ru|)ortioii of lime. 

It will be seen that the leaves contain more than twice as much of the principal 
elements as do the roots. Hence, the wisdom of leaving them on tlie field, if not fed 
to stock. Magnesia and lime are supplied to the soil at low cost in the form of lime 
cake. The plant requires much lime, and if it is not sufficiently present in the soil 
its absence must be made good. The plant is a most liberal feeder of potash and ni- 
trogen, its demands tor phosphoric acid being comparatively limited; hence, tiie wis- 
dom of api^lying fertilizers containing an excess of potash and low in i)hosphoric acid. 
We would especially emphasize tlie importance of potash, for even if the pulp is fed to 
stock and their manure ajqilied to the land, more or less potash is lost in process by 
leaching or in the molasses, etc, as well as by failure to utilize all the liipiid manure. 
Potash and phosphoric acid can be used very freely on beet fields and .seem to do bet- 
ter together than when applied separately. This is not so with nitrogenous manures 
or ammoniated substances, which tend to produce a quick and heavy growth of the 
beet and thus diminish its sugar content. As a general rule, it will be found that in 
the older and more exhausted soils, the generous use of fertilizers or manures is ad- 
visable, as the land must be made rich. On the newer soils at the west, just what 



82 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

fertilization is best is yet a subject of experiment and much is also to be learned 
about fertilizers on old land. 

In all cases, the crop seemed to do best if the ground was manured the socond 
year before the season the beet is to be raised. Well-rotted stable manure to be 
plowed under is advisable and in Nebraska results in greatly increased tonnage. In 
Utah, on the other hand, there has been a disposition among growers to put too much 
manure on their land, obtaining tonnage at the risk of quality, because beets of such 
gross growth do not ripen well. Even on the apparently inexhaustible soils at Chino. 
fertilizers have proven effective. "Green" or fresh stable manure should be plowed 
under the previous fall; better still, apply it to the previous crop. The main point 
is to have the soil well filled with available plant food in proper forms. 

Elaborate experiments have been conducted along this line in Europe on the old 
soils of Europe, which Wiley thus summarises: "As for the relation which the quan- 
tity of material returned should bear to the quantity abstracted, it may be said in 
general that it is desirable to return as much nitrogen, one and a quarter to one and 
one half times as much potash, and two and a half times as much phosphoric acid as 
has been abstracted. The greater additions of potash and phosphoric acids have no 
disadvantageous effects upon the crop. Direct investigations in regard to the rela- 
tion between the sugar and potash in consecutive crops for many years have failed to 
give the least ground for a contrary conclusion. But it must not be expected, on the 
other hand, that increasing fertilizations, especially potash fertilization, will produce 
proportionately increasing crops, as has been asserted by some. 

"The opinion has generally prevailed among beet growers during late years that 
heavy nitrogenous manuring, especially with r.itrate of soda, produces no injurious 
effect on the quality of the beet. This opinion was basea on the fact that in such 
beets the sugar per cent was only slightly diminished. Nevertheless the quality of a 
beet may be impaired even with little or no diminution of the sugar content by rea- 
son of the increase of the percentage of non-sugars present. It has been shown that 
heavy manuring with nitrogenous substances greatly injures the quality of the beet 
for sugar-making purposes." 

It is true that the beet is not an exhaustive crop, provided all its by-products are 
returned to the soil, but we fear that this will not be done in America for some years, 
meanwhile there is danger that failing to thus restore to the soil what is taken from 
it, farmers may get the idea that the beet will not exhaust the land, and that it can 
be grown in defiance of the fundamental principles of agriculture. This error should 
be guarded against by liberal fertilization. 

PLOWING. 

Immediately after harvesting the small grain, plow shallow (two or three inches) 
in order to prevent the weeds from going to seed. When this is done, spread the field 
with stable manure (if any is to be used) and in the fall plow deep. This deep 
plowing is very important, because the beet is thereby enabled to penetrate into the 
subsoil without much obstruction, thus preventing it from growing out of the ground 
and allowing it to extract considerable nourishment from the lower soil. The deep 
plowing will also give clean ground and will make it ready for early planting and 
thus insure a large tornage. The best way to accomplish this is to plow 8 to 10 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



83 



inches deep with an ordinary plow, follow it with a good subsoil plow that will stir 
the subsoil to a depth of 5 to 7 inches more, thus giving an open soil to a depth of 14 
to 17 inches. This subsoiling is often neglected, but it is essential for two reasons: 
(1) It gives a deep soil for the beet root to grow down into draining its food from 
the lower depths, and also preventing the top of the root from growing out of the 
ground; this makes a smooth conical beet of moderate size, richest in sugar and 
easily harvested. When the land does not freeze, as in California, this plowing should 
be done two or four months before seeding. 

In case the iilowing has not been done in the fall, plow as early in the spring as 
the ground will do to handle without sticking, for three reasons : 1, Because the 
sooner the weeds are encouraged to grow, the more of them can be killed before 
planting the beets ; 2, because land plowed while the weather is cool will retain the 





OTHER STYLES OF SUBSOIL PLOVVS. 



moisture much longer than it will if plowed during warm weather; 3, because it is 
much better to allow the ground to settle as much as possible after plowing and be- 
fore the preparation of the seed bed, so that it will become thoroughly packed, thus 
insuring better and quicker germination. In the spring never throw up more than 
two inches of soil that hai. not been stirred before; if your soil has never been plowed 
over six inches, it is better to use a subsoil plow to loosen the ground to the proper 
depth. These instructions refer only to spring plowing; when good land with deep 
soil is plowed in the fall it makes little difference how much new soil is turned up, 
as it would decay in winter through the action of the frost, but on thinner soils, this 
trouble can always be obviated by the subsoiler. 

After spring plowing, harrow, or better, drag once immediatelj-, and then leave 
the ground as it is until the time to prepare the seed bed, thus allowing the weeds 
to sprout. If the previous crop was corn, it is absolutely necessary to take the stalks 
and roots off the ground in the right manner in order to permit of easy and proper 



84 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

horse cultivation; it will not do to plow the stalks under, however, as it cannot be 
done effectually, the cultivator-knives brinj^iuij them back to the surface once more, 
and at the same time dragging along with them nioi'e or less of the small beet plants. 
The best way is to remove the mold-board from the plow, which will enable you to 
loosen the roots without turning the cornstalks under. Then gather them up with a 
hay rake into piles and after burning as much as possible haul off the remainder. 

In many soils in California, a sour clay is brought to the surface by deep plowing, 
which is injurious to the beet because of its acidity. This should be neutralized by 
the use of about two tons of lime per acre broadcasted on before harvesting. In Cal- 
ifornia, the spring cultivation of the plowed land is done with an implement fur- 
nished with long, narrow teeth that reach to the bottom of the plowing. 

MORE ABOUT SUBSOILING. 

This v/^ork is so important, especially in drouthy regions, that more detailed dis- 
cussion of it is in order. 

Subsoiling consists of a loosening or a breaking up of 8 to 20 or more inches 
of the soil below the depth of ordinary plowing. In true subsoiling the lower 
layers of soil are not thrown out on top. When the prairies of the west 
were first plowed, it was sometimes thought desirable to break the sod 
very shallow; then by following in the furrow, with the plow so made as to 
throw the comparatively mellow second furrow on top of the first, a layer 
of loose ground was obtained in which seed could be planted. This so-called 
subsoiling is in reality nothing but deep plowing, and is practicable only in a new 
country, or in the breaking up of meadows or pastures which have an exceedingly 
compact turf. In practice, land to be subsoiled the first time is plowed to the accus- 
tomed depth. The subsoil plow follows in the furrow of the ordinary plow, and is 
run about eight inches deep. If it is thought desirable, the work can be still more 
completely accomplished by subsoiling crosswise, running the subsoil plow the sec- 
ond time a little deeper than during the first operation. The entire subsoil to a 
depth of 12 to 14 inches, depending upon the depth of the first plowing, is thoroughly 
loosened, and so broken up that plant roots can easily penetrate it and rainfall is 
readily absorbed. When the same land is subsoiled again, run the plow about four 
inches deeper. 

The main benefits derived from this practice are : 1, The upper layers of soil are 
broken up and placed in a condition to absorb and hold a maximum amount of water. 
2, Natural rainfall is taken up and retained until needed by the growing crops. 3, 
Heat and air are enabled to permeate the subsoil and render available the plant food 
contained therein. 4, The loosened ground acts as a vast reservoir for storing soil 
moisture. 5, Stirring the hard subsoil breaks up the capillary tubes and prevents 
wasteful evaporation. 6, During the wet season the openings made by th© subsoil 
plow allow the excess of water to escape to lower levels. 7, Plant roots are given a 
better opportunity of development. 8, Such crops as sugar beets, turnips, rutaba- 
gas, sweet potatoes, etc, develop more completely under ground, resulting in a higher 
grade vegetable. If the surface of the field is kept loose by shallow culture, the loose 
layer will act as a mulch and greatly aid in retaining moisture. Experience and ob- 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



85 



servation have shown that the season, wet or dry, warm or cold, determines whether 
crops will be heavy or light. Any treatment, therefore, that will counteract the un- 
even conditions of a season, even partially, Avill increase the yield. Subsoiling and 
surface cultivation have a marked effect in counteracting the disastrous results of 
drouths. The beneiits of subsoiling, however, will depend almost altogether upon 
the nature of both the surface soil and that lower down. 

Whei-e the subsoil is very loose and porous, subsoil plowing may be a decided dis- 
advantage, in that it forms larger passages through which the natural rainfall Avill 
escapt!. If it is not a disadvantage, it often is of no benefit from the fact that the 
subsoil IS already sufficiently loose to retain the greatest_amount of moisture. Fields 




ADJUSTABLE FOUR-ROW BEET SEEDER. 

This machine plants 15, 20, or 25 lbs. of seed per acre in rows 16, 18 or 20 inclies apart as desired, covers 

tlie seed to an even deptli, and firms tlie soil about tlie seed. On large 

areas such a machine is indispensable. 



underlaid with a compact subsoil or hardpan, or those which have been plowed at 
the same depth for a number of years, forming a hard layer at the bottom of the fur- 
row, are the ones chiefly benefited by this mode of culture. This practice on any 
kind of soil, unless it is hardpan, would obviously be unnecessary during sea.sons 
when rains are sufficiently frequent to furnish the necessary moisture for grovving 
crops. During wet weather the operation might result in a puddling of the soil, to tts 
great injury. It is only during very dry seasons when its full benefits would be seen, 
but for the past 10 or 12 years in the most prominent grain and vegetable proihicing 
states, there has occurred in the summer or early fall a drouth which very materially 
.shortened the crop. So true is this, that farmers and gardeners in states compara- 
tively free from severe drouths have begun to seriously consider some method of 
bridging over this disastrous period, especially injurious to the market gardener and 
fruit grower. In practice it has l)een found that unless the soil is unusually compact. 



86 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

treatment once every three or four years is amply sufficient, Witli increasing drouths, 
however, it may be found desirable to subsoil every two years. The work is most 
profitably done in the fall, as this gives an opportunity for the land so treated to ab- 
sorb the fall rains, winter snows and any moisture which may be precipitated before 
spring plowing is possible. This is specially true in parts of the far west, where 
winter irrigation is practiced. The streams there during early fall or winter usually 
supply sufficient water for irrigating, while during the dry season they fail. 

Admitting, then, that subsoiling ought at least to be tested, the question of ob- 
taining suitable and most desirable plows is important. The common practice, as 
before stated, is to follow the ordinary breaking plow with a plow constructed espe- 
cially for subsoiling, types of which are illustrated herewith. These cost all the way 
from $10 to $18. They can be obtained of any of the prominent plow firms. One 
company manufactures an attachment, or rather a subsoiler, which is substituted for 
the front plow on a four-horse gang. There is no getting around the fact that subsoil 
plows pull hard. In the case of the gang subsoiler, a good four-horse team takes it 
along quite readily, but if the ground is especially hard, it would need one or two ex- 
tra horses. With the ordinary subsoiler, which follows in the furrows of the plow, it 
is customary to use two horses, but three or even four are more satisfactory. 

During the past four years many careful tests with subsoiling have been con- 
ducted at American experiment stations and by practical farmers. The results, care- 
fully compiled by Mr C. A. Shamel in American Agriculturist, are somewhat 
conflicting, though only a few were with sugar beets. 

In New Yoi-k and Kansas no decided advantage was obtained. In South Caro- 
lina on sandy soils, the effect was not appreciable. In Indiana and Iowa, the prac- 
tice was advantageous in sugar beet culture, as better formed beets, with a higher 
per cent of sugar, were obtained. Corn in tJiese two states was not benefited. Prac- 
tical farmers in Kansas find subsoiling beneficial. Mr Kelsey of Oakland, Shawnee 
Co, stated to the agricultural board that in 1894 land subsoiled yielded G5 bu of corn, 
while that not so treated produced only 35 bu. MiHet on subsoiled land yielded well ; 
on untreated it was a failure. The effects last about three years. Subsoil one-third 
of the farm each year. Mr Peckham of Haven, Reno Co, obtained substantially the 
same results. Experiences in Illinois are somewhat difficult to obtain, as but little 
"work has been done along this line. In general the facts in this state agree with 
those from Kansas and Nebraska. 

The most marked results are reported from the Nebraska experiment station in 
Lancaster Co, by Prof Lyon. The soil in most parts of Nebraska, and where these 
experiments were tried, contains very little sand and is made up mostly of silt, or of 
the ordinary dark mud so familiar to residents of the corn belt. Because of the small 
amount of sand, the soil compacts quite readily, becoming almost as firm as so much 
clay. It is well supplied with plant food, and when stirred sufficiently deep so as to 
take up water, is very productive. Good results from subsoiling were very marked. 
Land subsoiled four years ago for sugar beets and not treated since, was this season 
jilanted to corn. A field not so treated lay alongside. Both were upland, with a 
gradual slope toward the east, and consisted of a fine loam with considerable vegeta- 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



87 



ble matter. The results were so marked that the exact row of the subsoiled field 
could be told, because of its superior excellence. The stalks on the unsubsoiled land 
were badly dried up and contained no ears, while those on subsoiled land were large, 
green, and produced a fair yield. Such results are encouraging, and show that witl'i 
very little extra expense good crops can be raised with less rainfall than is generally 
supposed. If the effect is not apparent the first season, it makes itself felt in the 
course of two or three years, the reason being that if very little rain falls after sub- 
soiling, the small amount of moisture sinks rapidly into the soil and is retained there 
until the plant roots need it. After the practice has been started, the excess of wa- 
ter beyond the demands of the soil continues. Subsoiling is especially adapted to 
Nebraska, because the annual rainfall is less than in most arable portions of the coun- 




A HAND PLANTER FOR BEET SEEDS 

try.^ Added to this is a very dry atmosphere, and periods of extreme heat accompa- 
nied by high winds. The following conclusions were reached for Nebraska: Subsoil 
plowing, although conserving moisture, does not produce it and is therefore not a 
substitute for irrigation where rainfall is too small to produce crops. Where the sub- 
soil is hard, subsoiling is recommended ; when loose it is not profitable and may be 
injurious. Do not subsoil when wet, as there is danger of puddling the soil, thus 
leaving it in a worse condition than before. Ground subsoiled in the fall has an am- 
ple opportunity of absorbing the greatest rainfall. Subsoiling in spring may be detri- 
mental in extreme dry weather, as the water is partially removed from the voung 
plants by the absorption of the dry bottom soil. 

PREPARATION OF SEED BED. 

Land that has been fall plowed must be harrowed as soon as the frost is out of 
the ground and the soil is dry enough to prevent sticking. This work will level the 



•88 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

ground, thereby holding the moisture in the soil, and increase the germination of the 
weeds, etc. To secure a good crop, it is absolutely necessary to kill all the weeds in 
the ground before seeding. Here is where most failures occur, and if weeds are al- 
lowed to get a start, the cultivation of the ci'op will involve much unnecessary and 
■expensive hand work. Therefore, to prepare a good seed bed, we advise working the 
soil four to hve inches deep with a pulverizer, or better yet, with a corn cultivator, 
once lengthwise and once crosswise, making sure not to miss any spot in the field, as 
it is necessary to loosen any weeds that may have already sprouted. In California 
this has to be done whenever the weeds may start. Then harrow lengthwise and 
crosswise to level the soil perfec'ly and finish killing the weeds. After this, pack the 
top soil to a depth of two to three inches well with a heavy roller; never use a plank 
float for this work, as floated ground is never well packed, and will besides increase 
blowing and washing. The better the soil is packed after the weeds are killed, the 
better the beet seed will sprout. All the above work must be performed at a time 
when the ground is in good working condition; that is, not too damp, as the working 
of wet soil must be strictly avoided. As beet seed requires considerable moisture lo 
germinate, it would also be a great loss to the beet grower to allow the soil during the 
preparation of the seed bed to dry out; therefore in dry weather or in an average 
season, the field must be prepared and SBeded the same day, this being the only way 
in which the moisture can be kept in the ground under the usual west conditions — a 
great feature in crop raising and especially so in beet culture. 

To prevent the soil blowing, which is very disastrous to the small beet plants (in 
Nebraska, even the best black bottom land will blow, if level and fine, which it must 
be to secure a good crop), run a light harrow over tlie field, after rolling bat before 
seeding. This harrow must be very light and can be easily constructed and without 
much expense by using 2x2 pine pieces for the beams and large nails for the teeth, 
only letting them project below the beams li to 2 inches. This harrow must simply 
scratch the soil (not over half an inch deep), thus giving a rough surface, which will 
prevent blowing except on dry, sandy soil, on which, for this reason and some others, 
sugar beets should never be planted. The soil must not be loosened again by a deep 
harrowing, as this would injure the germination. 

There is a tendency to neglect some of these various preparations of the soil, but 
except on certain lands particularly adapted to the crop, every step above enumer- 
ated is essential. Too much (^are cannot be devoted to the preparation of soil and 
seed bed, for upon it success largely depends. Even if the season is unfavorable, the 
crop will do enough better on a well-prepared soil to pay for the labor, while in a 
favorable season, this work will yield a handsome dividend. It will be seen that 
such preparation is directly contrary to the careless way in which the land is usually 
worked for field crops. Right here is where beet culture differs from that of almost 
any other crop. It involves intense farming of the highest type. Not one of the old 
market gardens about New York, Philadelphia, or other eastern cities is more care- 
fully worked than the sugar beet requires for best results. 

SEEDING. 

To secure a full yield, it is absolutely necessary to have a good stand. It is much 
easier to thin out surplus beets with a good stand, than to have to plow under the 



THE BEET SUGAR IXDUSTRT. gg 

entire patch and replant it in case of a poor stand. It is desirable that when the 
plants come up they should nearly touch each other, but there is no necessity of over 
crowding, as this occasions extra labor in thinning out. Or the seed may be planted 
at a distance of three or four inches in the rows in groups of three or four seeds 
Formerly only 10 or 15 pounds of seed per acre was sowed, but American experience 
during the past six years has emphasized the importance of sowing at least 20 lbs of 
seed per acre. Then, should the weather be dry, the best seed will come up lirst and 
there will be enough for a good stand. On the other hand, should a crust be formed 
on the held after a heavy rain, one plant would help the other to break through the 




t.,.n':.'^1?/.''^,'^'°'' planter and cultivating machine. 

.oe, cul.uatoi lake or p ow, by „.si„g tl.e appropriate parts. Its advantages 
to small cultivators of limited means are obvious. 

patch by hand, less seed will be required if the work is done carefully. 

Ahnost any garden drill can be adapted to sowing beet seed, but for larger fields 

the four-row horse drill is used. Seeders made especially for this purpose, seedin^^ 

our ro^s at a time and dropping the seed continuously in rows U to 19 inches apart? 

1^11,'"" f ,' f'' "' "" '"' ^ ""^ ^^^"^' '' ''' '■' ''''' 1-^- ^^y- -^--er plant 
seed " f-'""^-''" ^; '-' ''-^^ ^^-P' but see that the earth is well packed around the 

sur Ic. t ""'''' " '""'^^'^ '" '''' ^'''^^' "^ '''' ^^'•^"' b^^'^"^« by pressing the 

surface the necessary moisture for germinating in a dry season is drawn by capillarv 
a tiaction out of the deeper soil. The heavier the soil and the earlier the planting. 

lonnd T'T^'' '''""'"' ^'''""■'^^•'"P^^^^ '''' ^^-1 f-- -«ing in the 
.round. The deeper the seed is planted, especially in heavy soil, the weaker the 



90 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

plants will be if they come up at all. Therefore avoid deep planting, which invaria- 
bly gives a poor stand. The least covering of moist earth, well packed about the seed, 
is sufficient to sprout it. 

The rows may be 10, 12 or 1-1 inches apart if it is intended to weed out by hand ; 
or 18 to 21 inches if tlie horse hoe is used. 

Time for planting is when the soil is warm enough to germinate the seed. This 
is usually about two weeks or so earlier than the average farmei would think of plant- 
ing corn. In California it may be any time from January to June, in the central 
west from April 20 to May 20 , further east May 1 to June 1, and for the south March 
1 to May 1. No hard and fast rule can be laid down; the intelligent observer can 
judge from the season and condition of soil. The young plants should show in 7 to 
21 days, according to the season. If the stand is poor, cultivate it out and reseed the 
whole field ; or replant the poor spots. 

Parties growing a large acreage and not having very much help, will do well to 
plant the crop in sections, at intervals of one week apart, in order to gain more time 
for thinning; however, do not plant too late, for in that case the beets will not be 
strong enough when the dry season sets in, and will therefore suffer from the drouth, 
while the earlier and consequently stronger plants will thrive well and a heavier and 
better crop be insured. You had much better hire help during thinning time than 
to plant too late. 

If beets are planted at great distances apart, they become large in size and freoly 
absorb salts from the soil. To avoid this it is necessary to plant close together, thus 
dividing the available salts in the soil. Sugar is largely formed in the beet from the 
air through the leaves, and these should be many in number and of fair size, hence it 
will not do to overcrowd the plants. 

CULTIVATING. 

This work is performed with one-horse cultivators, which work one, two or four rows 
at a time. If after sowing, a heavy rain should cause a crust to form on the field, 
the light harrow previously described to prevent soil blowing is recommended; but this 
only in case the seed has not germinated, as otherwise it would be better to run the 
cultivator over the field, following the rows, which can be done easily before the seed 
is up, as the marks of the press wheels can be plainly distinguished. This work, how- 
ever, can be better done by hand hoes (11 inches wide; see Hoeing). As soon as the 
beets break through the ground and the rows can be followed, the cultivation must 
begin, the earlier the better, not only to destroy the weeds, but to loosen the soil, 
which i^ermits the air to penetrate, thus forcing the growth of the beet and improv- 
ing the quality. 

It is very important to kill the weeds before they get above the ground, or at 
least before they become well-rooted. This can be easily accomi^lished by cultivat- 
ing the field with the flat shovels every eight or ten days, care being taken to set the 
knives as close as possible to the rows, and never over two inches from the rows as 
long as the beets are small. As tlie beets grow older, however, the shovels should be 
run gradually farther away from the beets, and also deeper, until the leaves meet in 
the center of the rows, by which time the cultivation should have reached a depth of 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 91 

(3 inches, and should then cease, as the beets are ready to lay by. Besides destroying 
the weeds, this repeated cultivation prevents evaporation from the deeper soil, and 
secures a good and healthy growth. Never hill the beets, as level land keeps the 
moisture best. 

Keep the horse cultivator going whenever weeds appear, or a crust forms, until 
the beets have grown so large as to prevent this work, when they may be " laid by." 
In Utah and California, four cultivations and one hand hoeing, besides one spacing 
and thinning, is all the crop requires, but in Nebraska winds and drouth may necessi- 
tate more work on the crop. Frequent stirring to a depth of two or three inches is 
one of the best means of preventing loss of moisture from below during a di-y spell. 
This point cannot be too carefully observed whenever a drouth threatens, and if this 
cultivation is well and frequently done, tlie crop wiii stand quite a severe drouth 
without much injury, if the ground was previously prepared as described on Page 83. 

Hoeing has been rendered more effective and less expensive by the use of the 
various horse hoes and cultivators illustrated, but the use of these machines is to be 
supplemented in the field with the hand hoe. Great care must be exercised in using 
any cultivating machine, for if the setting up and use be not carefully looked after, 
the weeds will not be extirpated, while whole rows of beets may be cut down. Fre- 
quent hoeing and cultivating cannot be too highly recommended, for, as they say in 
Germany, "sugar is hoed into the beets." In Knauer's experience (Germany) a plot 
hoed once yielded 7 tons of beets per acre, twice gave 8 tons, three times gave lOf 
tons, four times gave 12i tons, while a field hoed five times yielded over 13 tons of 
dressed beets per acre, thus doubling the yield over the plot hoed only once. 

It will be seen from the foregoing that flat culture and rows is the universal rule 
at present in America. Mr Lewis S. Ware, editor of Tlie Sugar Beet, states in that 
paper for January '97, illustrating a French machine for harvesting beets in hills: 
"We have on many previous occasions urged that hill cultivation should be given a 
fair trial; it enables the tiller to get from beets most satisfactory results. The objec- 
tion, evidently, is that special agricultural implements are needed. In Europe, the 
rows on hills are either single or double; when single, the harvesting with ordinary 
plow may give good results, but it is very much more expensive than it would be 
with a special double row harvester. When in single rows on hills the distance be- 
tween rows is 2Hto 28^ inches; when in double rows on hills the distance is 9 to 11 
inches, while the hills are at distances which vary from 27 to 31 inches. There can 
be no doubt as regards the yield in hill cultivation; it is equal and, in many cases, 
is superior to flat cultivation, as the roots in growing find less resistance to overcome 
and have their plant food within easy reach, and through the- soil there is a better 
circulation of air; furthermore, there need be no evil effects from badly drained or 
damp soils which, under ordinary conditions, are almost worthless." 

This point is worthy the attention of American growers, though the fact that flat 
culture and drills have thus far been universal, indicates that they are generally satis- 
factory. One thing is certain, that hilling should not be practiced on dry and warm 
soils, for there it can only work harm. Hilling up may be of benefit on cold and wet 
soils, but these are properly treated by drainage. Of course if the soil gets washed 



92 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

away from the plants, the earth should be drawn up about tuem, as that portiou of 
the beet that shows above the soil is of inferior quality. 

HOEING. 

The tirst hoeing, which .is very important for the growth of the small plants, 
must be given with an ordinary 11 inch hoe between the rows, going li to 2 incnes 
deep, and as soon as the beets break through the ground, or if crust is formed, as 
soon as this occurs, following the press wheel marks. 

As the ground will have become packed during the bunching (or spacing) and 
thinning, thus preventing proper circulation of air, and the young plants, moreover, 
will have become weakened by their disturbance ; and for the further reason that it 
is cheaper to do it then, the second hoeing should be given with a 7-inch hoe the day 
after the beets are thinned, and never later than a few days after, care being taken 
to kill the weeds out close to the plant, but in such a manner as not to loosen or 
injure the beets. As the horse cultivator only loosens and clears the ground between 
the rows, the hoe must perform this work between the different plants. This hoeing 
should be 3 inches deep. A similar hoeing may be necessary twice after this, the last 
depending upon the freedom from weeds, also upon whether the ground is loose 
enough to enable the roots to grow. Both of the last hoeings should be as deep as it 
is possible to make them without injuring or loosening the plant. Under ordinary 
circumstances no work should be necessary in the field after 80 days from the time of 
planting except the final and deepest horse cultivation. 

THINNING OUT. 

Care should be exercised in doing this part of the work, as it is the most impor- 
tant of all the cultivation and care of the crop. It can only be neglected at the 
expense of yield and quality of crop. It is very necessary that this should be done 
just at the right time, and the sooner it is done the better for the growth and yield 
of the crop. As soon as the beets have four leaves, they should be thinned, and must 
not remain longer than one week without thinning, as the roots will entwine around 
each other if left longer, and make the thinning detrimental to the plant that is left. 
To perform this work, the beets should be spaced or bunched (directly after a horse 
cultivation) with an ordinary 6-inch hoe, cutting 6 inches of beets out and leaving a 
2-inch bunch, containing from three to six beets. After the beets are bunched, the 
healthiest jilant in each bunch is selected by the thinner to be left standing, his 
finger is placed firmly against it to prevent its being disturbed, and the other plants 
are pulled out by hand, together with all the weeds nearby. This operation will 
leave one strong single plant every 9 or 10 inches, and the ground should be pushed 
up well around each, but not packed. Of course, it is better to select the strongest 
and most thrifty plant, even if it is not at the regular distance, than to chose a weak- 
ly or spindling one at just the right distance. 

If thinned when only four leaves are on the plant, the top soil is still moist, and 
the beets left have no difficulty in taking hold and growing with renewed vigor, but 
the disturbance occasioned by thinning a few days later is not so easily overcome. 
The top soil is then dryer, and the young beet receives a set back that will certainly 



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94 



THE SUGAR INJ)USTRY. 




PLANET JR. TWO-HORSE 
CULTIVATOR. 



affect the yield. Where weeds or insects are not to be feared, the spacing may be 
done a few days before thinning. On the other hand, if there is any reason to fear 
loss of the young plants, it is more prudent to wait a little longer before doing the 

work of spacing, and m this case thinning should 
follow spacing without any interval. If the land 
is very rich, the final plants are left as near 
together as 6, 7 or 8 inches, while in Utah, 
under irrigation, the plants are even thinned 
to 4 inches. The distance apart at which the 
beets are left depends not only upon richness 
of the soil, but upon the probabilities of its 
having sufficient moisture. In the rich moist 
land the beets can stand closer together than on 
dryer and lighter soils. By spacing with a 
hoe a more regular distance is secured between 
each beet, and all the weeds ia the row are destroyed at the same time; the crust is 
also broken up that has been formed by the pressure of the wheel of the seeder, 
and it removes any seeds from the row that may not yet have germinated, thus avoid- 
ing, when harvest time comes, the appearance of a lot of small beets that had grown 
up from these seeds. This spacing with 
the hoe is also apt to increase tonnage and 
pei'centage of sugar. 

The leaves of the plant are the means 
through which it obtains most of its sugar. 
This substance is composed of carbon and 
oxygen, both of which are mainly taken in 
by the leaves, the former as carbonic acid. 
Mr Ware, in his great work on the sugar 
beet, summarizes experiments by. himself 
and otliers to show that the saccharine 
content of the beet improved with tlie num- 
ber and weight of its leaves. "Each leaf 
has apparently conununication with a given 
portion of the beet, and supplies it with 
the nourishment it requires. The outer 
leaf corresponds with the inner portion of 

the root; these representing the older leaves, we may conclude that they have fur- 
nished the larger portion of the saccharine elements. During the growth of the leaf, 
the root increases but comparatively little in si^.e, and as soon as completed, the con- 
trary action takes place. Evidently, the greater the size of the leaves, the larger the 
amount of the elements they are able to abstract from the surrounding air, and the 
total weight of the leaves is, up to a certain period, greater than that of the root." 

The smooth and tapering shape of the root desired depends mainly upon the soils 
where it grows and the preparation the soil has received. The variety of seed used 
has of course some influence on shape of root, but the most desirable seed for this 




ANOTHER FORM OF 

CULTIVATOR. 

Tliis admirable Planet Jr. tool as a beet 
horse hoe, has a one and tliree-fourths inch 
cultivator tooth, two six-inch hoes, a twelve- 
inch special flat sweep, and a pulverizer. 
The latter is a very useful attachment, level- 
ing; and fining the surface and killin^ small 
weeds. 



M 

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I n 

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p 

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i w 

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§ S 







96 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

purpose will not give roots of satisfactory form on an luifavorable and poorly pre- 
pared soil. It is senseless to blame the seed for faults in the soil. 

IRRIGATION. 

Utah has solved the problem of growing beets by irrigation. Her experience 
teaches many practical lessons that are being heeded in drouthy or irrigation 
regions. Too much water, applied too often or at the wrong times, is bad for tonnage 
and quality. Great damage is done to many fields of beets by inexperienced farmers 
flooding the land and allowing the water to stand about the small plants, then 
neglecting to cultivate until the soil has baked. Even in Utah, it is still recognized 
that the management of irrigation to produce the best results is a delicate matter, 
and not yet fully understood. Untimely irrigation may utterly destroy the value of 
the roots for sugar making, and the necessity of varying the application of water 
according to the nature of the land, in order to secure gootl results, implies the exer- 
cise of much judgment and experience in the matter. ]Jut with due regard to all 
tl:^ese alleged disadvantages of irrigation, it is the universal judgment of Utah beet 
growers, after six years' experience, that they are far outweighed by the benefits of 
irrigation. The production is more certain, and the harvest more safely assured, 
than where the caprice of heavy rains or excessive drouth has to be contended with. 
The results are always more certain where ii'rigation is necessary and this is the 
greatest stimulant to proper methods in applying water. 

Mr George Austin, field manager of the Utah Sugar company, has had more 
experience than any other man in growing beets by irrigation. Mr Austin says: 
"^fter the thinning is done we run a cultivator drawn by a horse through the rows, 
but great care must be taken not to cultivate too deep or hill up the young plants, as 
they require all the air and sunlight that it is possible for them to have. After the 
first cultivation we generally hoe them the second time to clean out all the weeds in 
the rows and remove any surplus beets that may have been overlooked at the time of 
thinning. By this time the beets should be far enough advanced to commence pre- 
paring for irrigation. This we do by using the same cultivator, attaching a small 
6-inch furrower on the rear end, and we cultivate every other row, leaving a nice 
little ditch of sufficient size to carry the water without flooding the beets. The sec- 
ond watering we alternate the rows — this method usually gives enough moisture each 
watering, but this kind of irrigation, however, depends entirely on the slope and 
condition of the land. If the land has much of a slope, and is inclined to be a light, 
sandy loam, it may be necessary to water each row every time you irrigate during 
the season, but tlie latter is an exception to the rule with us. 

"We never commence irrigating until the beets show they require moisture, 
(usually letting them suffer a few days), and by so doing it always gives us a nice 
shaped, long, tajiering beet. If the first watering is applied too early we usually have 
a short, spriggy, undesirable beet. Too much manure or alkali will have the same 
effect on sugar beets. We generally have to make cross ditches on our beet fields on 
about every 20 to 30 rods, depending upon the slope and nature of the Umd. If we 
run the water farther than this it usually saturates the upper part of the field too 
much, before the lower end gets suifi('ient. Great care must be taken in turning the 



THE BEET SUGAR IISTDUSTRY. 



97 



■water on the beets not to force too much into the furrows, causing it to flood or over- 
flow, and this must be avoided if possible. Therefore it is essential to select land for this 
crop, as much as possible, with a nice slope. We always cultivate the rows after each 
watering as soon as we can, cultivating them from 5 to 6 inches deep. This allows 
the beets to develop, and also helps to retain the moisture much longer than it would 




FREMONT SUGAR BEET CULTIVATOR. 

This Nebraska invention is tlie result of several years' work in the beet flelcls of that state. The 
machine is simple, light, compact and easily adjustable for either deep or shallow cultivation. The 
four spiders providecl are used in case the soil becomes crusted on the surface, thereby preventing the 
beets from showing througli the ground. Tliere are four knives that are used in cultivating the beets 
when very small. These are different from any used heretofore, and are so shaped as to permit the 
party handling the ma(diine to work very close to the plant without danger of covering the plant with 
dirt. The four small sliovels are used for the deeper cultivation, and the two large shovels are for the 
final and deepest cultivation. 




PLANET JR. BEET GROWERS' HORSE HOE. 



This machine has been perfected by Utah experience, and is very popular there. The teeth loosen 
the soil thoroughly without throwing earth on tlie small plants. The' little plow at the rear is the "ir- 
rigating tooth," to make a clean furrow through which the water will run for irrigation. 



otherwise. Care must be taken all through the season not to hill up the beets, or 
break off the leaves. We generally water our beets two to four times during the sea- 
son, and it usually takes about 20 to 30 days after the last watering before the beets 
are ready for harvesting." 

Mr Morgan Woodhouse, another Utah grower of experience writes : "My idea is 
to let them go as long in the spring without water as you dare, say until the bottom 



98 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

leaves wilt down and the tops begin to change from a light or yellowish green to a 
dark green. After the first watering they should be kept wet. i would not be in fa- 
vor of going to an extreme, but 1 would not allow them to get dry if I could help it. 
The length of time between waterings should vary, according to the land, from 8 to 14 
days. The last watering should be about the last of August or the first of 
September. 

Another expert, Mr Samuel Taylor says: "I do not believe it is good to irrigate 
too soon. Let your beets get up and get them thinned, letting them have a pretty 
good start. When the lower leaves begin to wilt and the tops turn a dark green, the 
water should be first applied. Of course when you start you must keep it up. Three 
or four waterings will make a good crop of beets. Four are better than three, and if 
you can get four good irrigations on a crop of beets I am satisfied they will mature 
and make a good crop. With respect to the last watering ; one year we were told to 
stop watering too early and we lost a great many beets by it. I would water the last 
time about the last of August, if watered up to this date the beets will be all right." 

In Nebraska it is felt that proper irrigation will often insure the crop, but expe- 
rience has so far been limited. Mr F. Wietzer, field manager for the Norfolk fac- 
tory, summarizes the matter for this work as follows: "We have taken much interest 
in irrigation of sugar beets. Last year there was raised 90 acres by irrigation, and 
the results were very satisfactory, as well in quality as quantity. Beets should never 
be irrigated until they show actual need of it. No water should be put on them as 
long as there is a natural supply of water in the ground, for too much water is almost 
as disastrous as not enough. After you have once commenced putting water on land, 
it dries out more quickly than before and will require watering the second time. The 
number of irrigations that a crop requires during the season depends entirely upon 
local surroundings, nature and condition of land. The first irrigation should not be 
before the middle of June, and no water should be applied after the first week in 
August. Beets should never be irrigated in the fall,, for irrigating at that time will 
bring forth new tops and give the roots a second growth, which is disastrous to the 
quality. A very advantageous method of irrigation is this: When the spring is very 
dry, to soak the land from the irrigation ditches, and then as soon as the soil is dry 
enough, prepare seed bed and plant seed." 

Mr Granger, field manager of the Utah Sugar Co, spoke of irrigation at length in 
his address before the Pecos valley beet growers in New Mexico. Among other things 
he said: "As soon as you have commenced irrigating, see that the beet is kept sup- 
plied with sufficient moisture to keep it thrifty. It will take thirty days from the 
last irrigation before you can harvest, usually; on very sandy land twenty-five days, on 
clay land thirty days. This delay is necessary because, when you are through irrigat- 
ing for the last time, the beets are nearly through growing and the sugar is forming. 
When given an irrigation, the sugar in the beets will go down for fifteen days, and it 
will take a li«^tle longer to get back again. A great many people ask me how many 
times they shall irrigate. I cannot tell them without seeing the field. When the 
leaves wilt down in the middle of the day it is not so bad, but when they stay wilted 
• in the cool of the evening, give them a drink. Let them suffer a little for water in 
the fore part of the season ; it will force the taproot to reach down for moisture. In 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



99 



irrigating beets, we take every other row, and find that the water when run slowly 
will irrigate both. Then we alternate the next time, and run water through the other 
rows, giving the beets moisture on both sides. After every irrigation cultivate as 
deep as you can, practically eight inches. It is necessary to loosen the ground around 
the beet so that it may have a chance to develop. To do this we take a little 
A-shaped sweep, with the point running into the ground, and all it does is to lift the 
ground a little, but it loosens the soil around the beet. In Utah, our water is run to 
us in canals and ditches in which we are all interested, and have turns to use it. 
Only two or three nights before I left home, I found a water notice at my house, 
stating that the water would be given me at 8 that evening and taken off at 4 in the 




THE MOLINE BEET CULTIVATOR 
Can be used to work either four or two rows. The gangs are so adjusted that they can be handled with 
ease, and the shovels are so adjusted as to be run riglit up close to the beets. This cultivator is widely 
used in American beet fields. 



morning. At 4, my neighbor is there, and he takes it. We never have more than 30 
minutes to the acre in Lehi, and sometimes it is cut down to 15 minutes, during 
which the water is allowed us." 

William Bone, Jr, another very successful beet grower for the Lehi concern, says: 
"I think beets can hardly have too much water at certain times, which can only be 
judged by practical experience. A great deal depends upon the season and the land, 
too. I would not water them until they show that they need it the first tixue. In 
naturally light land they will stand watering pretty early. They should have at least 
two good cultivations before they are watered at all. In regard to the last watering, 
my idea is with them the same as with any other crop. If you let any crop wither 
and die, it is not good for anything. It naturally loses its strength and vitality. 



100 THE SUGA.R INDUSTRY. 

Water will not stop the beets from ripening, that is, unless the land is wet and clayey, 
and of course a person should know better than to water such land late in the season. 
Beets that have been well watered will not be affected nearly so much by the late 
storms as those that have not been well watered. My experience is that beets need 
some alkali, but I do not think that very strong alkali land is good for them. There 
is naturally more or less alkali in all our land, unless it is the light, loamy soih Beets 
like manure. Even here in Utah, all our land needs manure for beets. Of course a 
person can go to an extreme, but as a rule all our lands need manuring. There is one 
thing more about preparing land for beets : I am sure that many of our people tramp 
their land too much. Some of it becomes packed very heavy before the beets are put 
in. After the beets have come up the land cannot be cultivated too much." 

We may add that frequent and thorough culture is the best substitute for irriga- 
tion. With it, the beet will stand quite severe drouth. Daring the great drouth of 
'94, in the valley of the Platte, Nebraska, beets stood the drouth better than corn 
did, for tne subsoil is of sand and the water is only 10 to 15 feet below the surface of 
the ground, so that the roots of the beets can almost penetrate to the water. 

HARVESTING. 

It requires about four and one-half to five months after planting to procure ripe 
beets, although in California the time varies from 120 to 160 days. After they have been 
in the ground that length of time, and the outer leaves turn yellow and die down, it is 
an indication that the beets are ripening. The maximum of sugar and purity is usual- 
ly obtained during the month of October over much of the country where ordinarily se- 
vere winters are experienced, but in the Southwest and California, maturity on moist 
and late lands may not be reached until considerably later. The factory usually sam- 
ples several fields before advising growers to enter upon the general harvest. As the 
beets increase in tonnage mostly during the last six weeks of their growth, the har- 
vesting with full force should not be started too early. On the other hand, the beets 
must be out of the ground before hard freezing weather, as alternate freezing and 
thawing injures the sugar content. In case of a severe freeze before harvest is com- 
pleted, it may be best to leave the balance of the roots in the ground for a few days 
until normal weather is restored, as the quick thawing out of the beets might seri- 
ously impair their sugar content. 

The beets may be plowed loose from 8 to 10 days before removing from the 
ground, using a plow with a thin blade, which splits the soil between the rows. In- 
stead of the share it has a narrow blade in the nature of a subsoil point, enough to 
■carry it deep into the ground. The use of the plow avoids the injury to the beet 
■caused by* spades, hoes or shovels, and it is then easier also to remove the beet plant 
from the hard soil. Treated in this manner, the roots ripen and gain in weight and 
sugar; the earth adheres less to the root and can be shaken off with ease. In Ne- 
braska, a two-horse puller is used (Page 105) which loosens the beets, but leaves them 
in the ground. Whatever method is employed, the tops are taken hold of by boys, 
who pull the beets and throw them into piles. Another set of boys cuts off the tops 
with a beet knife, and for this purpose, the point of an old scythe set in a handle is 
about as good a tool as one can use, or a corn knife. The topping is best accom- 



102 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

X)lished by a deep, straight cut across the beet without whittling, including the base 
of the rough portion of the top, from which the leaves grow 

It is important that the top of the beet be cut off down to the neck so as to in- 
clude with the top all that portion of the beet to which the stems of the leaves have 
been attached. "The object of removing this portion of the beet is to prevent the 
mineral salts, which have accumulated in large quantities therein, from entering the 
factory. These mineral salts exercise a very deleterious influence on the crystalliza- 
tion of the sugar, and therefore should be removed. They are well fitted for fertili- 
zing purposes and are of more value when left upon the soil than when removed to the 
factory." These tops of the beets, with the attached leaves, are admirable for 
fodder. 

Another important point in harvesting beets is to have them as tree from dirt as 
possible. When beets arrive at the Nebraska factories, an average 50 lbs is taken 
from each load. They are tlien thoroughly washed and examined to see if properly 
topped, then weighed again, the loss determining the tare. The greater the amount of 
■dirt on the roots or the more improperly they are topped, the larger is the loss in 
weight or tare. The farmer not only has to stand this loss but he also bears the ex- 
pense of hauling and handling this unnecessary dirt. Not only that, but the dirt 
adhering to the roots is the finest part of the soil and very often the richest and best 
portion, and in a few years, a surprising amount of soil is thus taken from the land. 
Some careful beet growers not only try to deliver beets as clean as possible, but in- 
stead of returning with their wagons empty, load up with the waste deposited from 
the washer at the factory, which contains not only the rich earth that has been 
washed from the beets, but also the tip ends of roots, etc, all of which possess ferti- 
lizing value of importance. 

Several harvesting machines to both dig and top the beets have been tried but up 
to the past season, all have been discarded. Numerous clever and practical minds are 
at work on the problem and it is probable that a satisfactory machine to take the 
beets from the soil and top them will soon be perfected. There are several very suc- 
cessful machines for simply digging or plowing out the beets, several of ^hich are 
shown in the accompanying illustration?. 

The beets, after being topped, are then thrown into wagons, covered with sacking 
and hauled to the factory, or stored in silos in the ground. In delivering beets 
from the field to the factory, wagons hauled by horses or mules are usually employed 
in this country. It is a question, however, whether a more economical method is not 
possible, when the factory is in the midst of the beet fields. In this case, a movable 
railway with light rails and sleepers, that could be moved quickly and cheaply as the 
beets were harvested, would enable one horse to draw a car containing more beets 
than the ordinary two-horse wagon will carry. An overhead trolley upon which bas- 
kets of beets are drawn by ropes might be used, or on a large scale, where a factory 
is equipped with electricity, a movable overhead trolley employing electrical power 
to push the car along, might be feasible. Beets cannot be hauled by wagon more 
than froni 4 to 8 miles without its costing more than the traffic will bear. Of course 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



103 



where they are delivered to the railroad, the loaded freight cars are run by a spur 
track direct to the factory yard or shed. 

Mr Ware says that "A great mistake made by many farmers is not to cover their 
beets as soon as pulled, for if left on the ground they may lose 6 per cent moisture in 
24 hours. Place them in silos, if possible at once, until needed at factory. The loss 
of moisture can attain within a few days 20 per cent, the quality of the juice is not 




THE MATURE SUGAR BEET. 
Thi«i^l^iP^ron,%nnilf711*'xT'y"'T"" ^'-^liety, with its Toot system, about ot.e-twelfth natural size, 
in R.n^ff,, 9? niv i^! i ^^'^ •'■'r^'' experiment station, evidently rertuced one-half from larger plate 
in Bulletin 27, Division of Chemistry, United States Department of Agriculture. 

improved, changes take place, and the manufacturer frequently lias considerable dif- 
ficulty in working such beets. The farmer loses, so does the manufacturer. A neg- 
Ject of this kind is more serious than most American farmers realize." 

STORING BEETS. 

In the mild climate of California, the beets are dumped in large sheds at the fac- 
tory, or are simply left in huge piles outdoors. The loss in sugar content seems to be 



104 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

comparatively slight for a few weeks, and the beets are worked up before material 
injury occurs. 

In the colder climate of Utah, where the temperature goes as low as in any part 
of the United States, it was formerly thought that the beets must be carefully stored 
in exi)ensive siU)s or sheds. Hence when the Lehi factory was first built, the live 
frost proof beet sheds shown on Page 111 were built— of lumber, the walls being lined 
with straw. Each shed is 500 ft long and 20 ft wide, constructed with a sluice in the 
center so that the beets can be shoveled into it and brought to the factory by water, 
which is not only economy of labor but it gives them a thorough washing. 

Manager Cutler writes: "We have discovered since then, that frost is something 
we are not afraid of, providing that our beets are brought here in a perfect state. We 
have erected since then several platforms, one of which has sides to it, but the top is 
left entirely open. It is 500 feet long by 34 feet wide, and will hold fully 3000 tons 
of beets. We also have other platforms with a sluice in the center, but without any 
sides, and we use a movable railroad track— as fast as the beets are unloaded the track 
is moved further out, until we have an enormous pile resting on the plank or plat- 
form as above described. This system has worked admirably, and the best beets we 
had storeil were those that were left entirely open to the weather. The system of 
storing in large open piles has proven satisfactory under our conditions. We have 
stored some (5000 tons of beets in piles on the bare ground, sluices having first been 
constructed to can-y the beets by water to the factory from the piles. When the frost 
came(and we had the temperature as low as 10 degrees below zero in December, 1890, ) 
it froze over the surface of the stored beets to the depth of two or three beets, but 
there'was enough vegetable heat generated in the large pile to keep the beets in good 
condition and we have never yet lost a beet from frost. We are more afraid of the 
sun's rays than we are of frost. There was some loss of sugar in the small outside 
layer of beets that was frosted, but it was not enough to be of much importance, and 
the loss is infinitesimal compared with the expense of storing in sheds." 

The two iKist seasons are the only ones in which this method of storing in large 
open piles without i)rotection from the weather has been tried in severe American 
winters. The author is not yet ready to recommend this method, as a general prac- 
tice, in the severe cold weather and alternating freezing and thawing of a northern 
winter in the middle or eastern states, it should be carefully experimented with un- 
der the conditions in each locality. 

This plan is not feasible on the farm. Even in Utah, the factory authorities have 
preferred that the farmers store their late beets in the field according to the system 
much in vogue in Europe. When this is done, the factory pays the farmer 25 to 35c 
per ton for thus storing the beets and delivering them when wanted. For this pur- 
pose, the Utah plan is to dig a few rows of beets, then to run a tongue scraper down 
the field, making a shallpw trench. As the bests are dug and topped, they are thrown 
into this trench and covered with leaves, a furrow is plowed down each side to drain 
off the water, if it should storm, and the leaves are covered with a little dirt to keep 
them from blowing off the beets. The beets thus stored have generally come in good 
condition. Some were frozen, but as a rule, the farmers feel that they can store the 
beets and deliver them at almost any time within two or three months in good condi- 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTKY. 



105 



tion. At the same time, experience at the Utah factory is rather against trying to 
make too long a run, owing to the possibilities of loss in quality as well as other chances. 
Siloing in the field has to be more carefully done in Nebraska, and after six years' 
experience the Norfolk factory recommends this plan, which is a modification of Eu- 
ropean methods: "In the first place do not harvest your beets until tliey are ripe, as 
green beets do not keep as well in silos as ripe ones, and besides should you harvest 
when too green they might not contain the necessary 12 per cent of suirar with 80 
purity. In an average Nebraska season no beets should be siloed before October 




r 




_\ 




THE WALKING BEET PULLER. 
Tills homely device is inucli used. There are several varieties of it. The tool is quite iiopular in lieu of a better one. 



1.5th, and if the weather is warm it would be better to wait until the 20th, but in no 
case should the beets be allowed to remain unharvested (and not siloed) until the 
ground freezes. Fro.st-bitten beets will not keep; therefore all beets that you silo 
must be free from frost and be covered up the same day that they are harvested. 

"We would advise making five to seven silos to the acre, placing not less than two 
tons in each silo. When ready to silo, lift ihe beets from 40 to 45 rows with a horse 
harvester. These loosened beets must then be pulled out of the ground by hand and 
thrown in piles. It is advisable, in case the strip you have lifted contains 4.5 rows, 
to make a pile every six rods the length of the strip, and as this section of the 45 rows 



106 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

is about four rods wide and six rods long, each silo would thus contain the beets from 
24 square rods (about one-seventh of one acre). To prevent unnecessary handling it 
is advisable to first pull out the beets from the middle of the marked 24 square rods, 
placing them in such shape as to make a vacant place in the center about one rod 
wide and two rods long, then to pull the balance of the beets, throwing them into a 
windrow close to and surrounding this vacant spot. When this is finished, top the 
beets (at the base of the bottom leaves) with one stroke of the knife and throw them 
in the vacant place, making a pile four feet wide and not over three feet high, the 
length of the pile depending entirely upon the yield. After all the beets are topped 
and piled up in proper shape, cover the pile with six inches of dirt, being careful not 
to have any leaves or straw on the beets or mixed with them, and also to leave wide 
open a hole one foot in diameter, every five feet on top of the pile (at least two in 
each pile), for ventilation, as beets will sweat some after siloing. 

"It is generally advisable not to put much more than six inches of dirt over the 
beets in October, but to keep them free from frost you should cover the silo before 
the weather gets cold, say about ten days or two weeks after harvesting, in any case 
before hard frost sets in, evenly, with five to six inches of loose straw, leaving the 
ventilation holes uncovered, and place about two inches of dirt on top of the straw to 
prevent it from blowing away and for the purpose of packing it, as when well packed 
it will best keep the cold air out of the silo. Thus the covering will finally be com- 
posed of six inches of dirt, two inches of packed straw and then two inches more 
dirt. In an ordinary season such covering should keep your beets from freezing, but 
should there be exceptionally cold weather you might find it necessary (in case we 
have not ordered all your beets delivered to the factory by that time) to cover the re- 
maining piles with some long manure. As soon as the covering of silo freezes two 
inches, 3hut the ventilation holes with dirt and then keep them shut." 

Formerly the farmers were opposed to thus storing the beets, even when paid 30c 
per ton for so doing, but experience in '95 and '96 convinces them that it is an advan- 
tage to the grower also because it gives him a longer time in which to deliver the 
crop. Concerning the way in which beets keep in these silos, Mr Wietzer of the Nor- 
folk factory writes us : 

"Regarding loss in actual sugar of beets kept in silos, we have no actual results, 
but we have found that beets lose very little or nothing of their saccharine matter 
within the first two months after siloing. In the old country, it is no secret that 
beets lose at least 1 to li per cent of saccharine matter during a three months' time 
in silo, mostly in cases when weather is warm. Experiments made within the last 
few years have, however, shown that beets raised without fertilizer lose compara- 
tively very little in silos, while beets raised with nitrate of s©da show the greatest 
loss." 

Summarizing the most recent European experience on this point Ware says: "It 
has been demonstrated that the loss of sugar in silos is due to elevation of tempera- 
ture and too much ventilation, the greatest loss of sugar always corresponding to the 
most active respiration of the plant. From this the conclusion might be drawn that 
by keeping air out entirely the problem could be solved ; but decomposition of the 
roots then would certainly follow. When ventilation is too active, considerable loss 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTEY, 



107 



of moisture is the consequence; and when this is excessively low the piotoplasms 
die, followed by alteration in the beet cells. The most desirable temperature for 
silos appears to be 35,6 degrees to 41 degrees F. Avoid all bruises of roots to be kept, 
is a maxim never to be lost sight of in beets that are to be stored. Twist off the 
ieaves, but do not attempt topping." We may add that Nebraska experience is 




BEET HARVESTER WITH TOPPING ARRANGEMENT. 

This Nebraska invention failed in practice so far as topping tlie beets is concerned. No machine, in Europe or Amer- 
ica, lias yet been devised that will loosen the beets, lift Ihem frorfi the soil, top them properly, and deliver them at 
side of row ready for factory or silo. The attempt illustrated above should pave the way to some one's success in per- 
fecting such a machhie. 



against the hint in the last sentence, as two handlings of the beets cost noore than 
the loss in sugar due to absence of top or necks on beets in silo. 

The system of drying beets has been tried on a small scale in California. In that 
extremely dry and warm climate, the fresh beets when sliced shrink to one-'fourth 
their original weight by loss of water in from three, to four weeks' exposure to air and 
sun. These topped beets contain from 50 to 05 per cent of sugar and can of course be 
shipped by rail any reasonable distance. The process has only been tried on a small 
scale and great care had to be exercised to keep the beet chips from fermenting and 



108 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

spoiling entirely. Whether this can be guarded against sufficiently to make the drying 
process practical remains to be seen. Should it prove to be feasible, it is possible that 
such evaporated or desiccated beets might be kept to supply the factories when their 
original stock of beets was exhausted. In the absence of larger tests of this necessity, 
it is useless to speculate about it, and the expense of cutting and drying the beets 
seems to be an almost insurmountable obstacle. 

FEEDING AND STORING BEET PULP, TOPS AND MOLASSES. 

The pulp from the beets after the sugar is extracted, makes an admirable feed for 
all stock — horses, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. Yet its value for this purpose is- 
only beginning to be appreciated in this country, though in Europe the farmers would 
no more think of allowing beet pulp to go to waste than our farmers would think of 
curing hay for fuel. At the Utah factory, a feeding company has contracted for all 
the pulp for a series of years, and have erected adjacent to the factory (so as to save 
all hauling and handling possible) a complete system of sheds and feeding pens. Two- 
thousand head of cattle are fattened here each season for market. They eat the pulp 
greedily, consuming from 100 to 12.5 lbs per head each day, besides about 15 lbs 
of hay. These cattle command a very good market, the meat being very juicy and 
tender. The cattle fatten quickly under proper conditions and as the company gets 
the pomace or pulp for nothing, except the cost of removing it from the factory, the 
enterprise is a prolitable one. The past season over 1000 sheep were fattened here on 
pulp. At Watsonville, 1700 cattle were fed at the creamery silo, and beets that fall 
from the wagons there are also used as stock feed, whereas it was formerly neces- 
sary to dump the pulp in the ocean to get rid of it. Dairymen pay 15c per ton for 
having the pulp loaded on cars at factory, and 50c to $1 per ton freight, so that it 
costs them 75c to $1.15 per ton, besides hauling from local depot to farm; at these 
terms, they consider it the cheapest and best feed. 

The feeding value of beet pomace depends mainly upon the quantities of protein, 
(nitrogenous matter), sugar, starch, fiber and fat it contains, and upon the propor- 
tion of the.se ingredients that are digestible. The California experiment station's 
analysis of beet pulp may be compared as follows with ensilage of corn fodder and 
green clover : 



TOTAL ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL FOOD IN 100 LBS. 

Beet Clover Corn 







pulp 


silage silage 


Water, lbs. 




90.0 


72.0 70.6 


Ash, lbs, 




0.3 


2.6 2.6 


Protein, lbs, 




1.5 


4.2 2.7 


Fat or oil, 




0.4 


1.2 0.7 


Fiber, lbs, 




3.1 


8.4 9.7 


Siiuar, starch. 


etc, 


4.7 


11.6 13.7 



Total, 100.0 



AMOUNT OF FOOD DIGESTIBLE ELEMENTS IN 100 LBS 

Beet Clover Corn 







pulp 


silage 


silage 


Protein, lbs, 2c, 




1.3 


2.0 


1.4 


Fat or oil, lbs, 2c, 




0.4 


1.0 


0.6 


Fiber, lbs, Ic, 




2.5 


4.4 


6.5 


Sugar, starch, etc. 


Ic, 


4.2 


9.2 


5.6 


Feeding value per 


ton*, 


$2.02 


$3.92 


$3.22 



*Based on 2c per lb for digestible protein and fat 
and Ic for the other nutrients, on which basis the 
theoretical feeding value of wheat grain figures 
$17.50 per ton, corn meal $17, potatoes $3, beets 74c, 
mangels $1.52, turnips $2.75, rutabagas $12 and car- 
rots $1.82 per ton. 



The protein contains 16 % of actual nitrogen, and the ash is rich in potash and phosphoric acid, as 
also lime and magnesia. These ingredients are got back in the solid and liquid manure of the stock 
that consumes the pulp, so that it has an important manurial value. Indeed, in this way, one can re- 
turn to the soil much that the crop took from it. 

It appears that beet pomace that is nine-tenths water is yet worth for stock feed 
fully half as much as corn silage only 70 per cent water. If the water was dried out 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



109 



of the pulp so it contains only as much as the corn silage, it would be of about equal 
feeding value, pound for pound. But cattle eat only 30 to 50 lbs daily per head of 
silage, whereas they will consume fully twice as many pounds of beet pulp, and thus 
get much more actual nutriment out of the pomace than they do from silage, as both 
are commonly fed. 

For milch cows beet pulp is excellent, though it should not be fed to excess. 
Careful tests at the Iowa experiment station show that the sugar beet is very palata- 
ble and contains no volatile acid injurious to butter. But whether milk is sold or 
butter made, we would not advise feeding beet pomace alone any more than silage 







RECEIVING BEETS AT ALVARADO. 

Showing outside of sheds and pile containing,' several thousand tons of beets. Observe the long line of teams ready to 

discharge their loads of beets. 

alone; feed also hay or some dry fodder, with cottonseed or linseed meal, pea meal, 
or bran. Always begin feeding the pulp to milch cows in small quantities, say 5 or 
10 lbs at a meal, gradually increasing as the cows get used to it. 

Another advantage of beet pulp as feed is that it can be kept lor months without 
loss of quality by storing in silos. Says Prof Jaffa of the California experiment sta- 
tion : "Sugar-beet pulp is one of the best adaptable materials for silage that the 
feeder can procure. One of the difficulties encountered in siloing is the exclusion of 
air from the mass during the curing process. With corn, clover or any of the fodders 
used for this purpose, much trouble is at times experienced in properly firming the 
different layers as they are placed in the silo, in order to leave no air spaces in the 



no THE SUGAK INDUSTRY. 

mass. The reason for this is, that if much air is present, fermentation will be car- 
ried on to sucli an extent as to spoil a considerable portion of the food. In the caso 
of beet pulp, we do not have to contend with any of the inconveniences just noted. 
The pulp as it comes from the diftuser in the sugar factory is in the best possible con- 
dition for siloing. It is wet, the pieces are exceedingly small and the mass is quite 
homogeneous. Hence, when placed in the silo it packs itself and tills up every avail- 
able space, without any intervention on the i)art of the lillers — a behavior that is very 
different from that of any other food. For this feedstuff, then, a shallow rectangular 
or square silo would answer the purpose equally as well as a deep, round one — the 
style found to yield the best results when corn or clover is siloed. The deeper the 
silo tli£ greater the pressure, and, therefore, the less air remaining in the silo; the 
circular shape is adopted so as to do away with corners. It is thus obvious that the 
expense attending the construction of the silo for beet pulp would be much less than 
where other fodders are used. In regard to the covering of the material while silo- 
ing, the beet pulp has the advantage over corn and ciover in that it covers itself, 
forming a seal, which thoroughly excludes the air. Another point which must not 
be lost sight of is, that when the beet pulp silage is fed, the portions can be removed 
much easier and with more facility than is the case where we are dealing with corn, 
etc. Wherever beet pulp silage has been tried it has )net with the best of success, as 
the animals greatly relish it." 

The beet tops and waste beets comprise a considerable tonnage where several 
acres of beets are raised. This material is also excellent for all stocks, imparting a 
rare flavor and color to beef or pork, beside making rapid gains in live weight. Feed- 
ers about Watsonville are especially enthusiastic over the feeding value of this beet 
top waste for hogs as well as cattle and milch cows. Similar reports come from Utah 
and Nebraska, thus fully confirming European experience. These tops will not keep 
so long as the pulp will, and the sooner they are consumed the better. The tops 
(leaves), with the neck or upper part of beet that is cut off, constitute about 15 or 20 
per cent at least of the gross weight of the ci'op, so that a yield of 15 gross tons per 
acre would give about twelve tons of dressed beets and three tons of tops. Many 
European feeders consider this fodder worth as much as the best hay, pound for 
pound. 

Mr Ware says in a recent issue of The Sugar Beet, speaking of Germany: "A fac- 
tory working 40,000 Tons of beets per campaign has 22,000 tons of residuum pulp which, 
when dried, weighs 2750 tons, the cost of drying being $5 per ton, or a total of $13,- 
750. The product found a ready sale for $17,200, leaving a profit of $3450. Owing to 
the low market price of molasses, this residuum was mixed with the cossettes during 
their drying. One hundred pounds of fresh cossettes can absorb 6 lbs of molasses, 
the product after drying weighing only 15 to 18 lbs. The money value of beet tops 
and leaves has been determined by analyzing them, and allowing that carbohydrates 
have a recognized market value. According to all calculations made they should not 
be sold for less than $1.60 per ton when considered collectively." 

The molasses residue from beet-sugar factories has not been much fed in this 
country. In Europe, however, it has been generally used for this purpose, about one- 
fourth of the product of many German factories being fed. The great difficulty has 



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11^ THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

been to find a proper fodder with which to mix the molasses in order to counteract 
the purging effect which molasses alone (or in conjunction with some other feeding 
stuffs) exercises on cattle when fed with it, even in small quantities. The latter 
ditficulty has apparently been met by mixing the molasses witli a dust or mull ob- 
tained from the moss turf that grows on peat. This moss turf is obtained by being 
torn up or teased out by a machine for making moss litter called a "Wolf. " It is 
taken from the upper strata of higli-lying peat moors, and consists largely of the dried 
but non-decomposed liber of the plants Sphagnum cuspiclatum and Eriophorum lati- 
folium. The acids contained in this moss turf seem to neutralize the salts in the mo- 
lass3S and render them harmless, thus counteracting the severe purging caused by 
molasses alone. It is not claimed that this peat stuff itself has any direct feeding 
value, its usefulness being confined to neutralizing the laxity of the molasses. About 
35 lbs of this stuff is used with 05 lbs of molasses, though the proportions vary, and 
there are several patent processes. The stuff has to be mixed with the molasses wliile 
hot. It is being largely fed in Germany, where great claims are made for it, though 
some feeders dispute these assertions. It is claimed to be much cheaper than the 
best fat-producing foods, keeps the animal in health, is a good substitute for bran, 
gives a glossy appearance to the skin, improves quality and quantity of milk, in- 
creases weight and improves flavor of meat and can be stored an unlimited time. 

The average American farmer will not use any such material. He can, however, 
mix molasses with cut straw or hay. German experience indicates that the use of 
molasses in this way increases the amount of actual food elements in the fodder that 
are digested. The straw is cut into sliort chaff and tJie molasses poured over it, 
which is first thinned a little with water. To every 100 lbs of chaff, add 20 lbs of 
molasses. Feed with 15 lbs of cottonseed meal or linseed meal or a larger quantity of 
wheat bran. After cows get used to it they will consume daily 20 lbs per head of 
this straw chaff with a relish, besides uncut straw and other coarse stuff. The results 
are most satisfactory. This feed has been found to be most excellent for sheep, 
hogs, cattle and even horses, but with all stock the feeding with molasses should be- 
gin with very small doses. Increase the molasses ration very gradually. 

Mr R. M. Allen, who, as manager of the Standard Feeding Co, Nebraska, speaks 
from long experience in the feeding of beets, necks and tops, says: "I regard it as 
probable that the profit derived from feeding the waste products of the factory and 
those parts of the beet left in the field will be almost as great as the profit from the 
manufacture of sugar. Cattle feeding is a branch of the business that I consider al- 
most as important as sugar manufacture." 

PESTS OF THE BEET. 

Thus far the most serious obstacles to the production of large quantities of rich 
beets in the United States have been unfavorable climatic conditions, too much or 
too little rain or drouth, eai-ly frosts, too little sunshine with unseasonable weather 
during the growing and harvesting period. What can be clone to mitigate these natu- 
ral conditions has been considered in the previous pages. Thus far the crop has not 
suffered materially from blights or other fungus pests. Beets are sometimes hollow 
in the center and in that case lack both weight and quality, but this trouble mainly 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



113 



occurs only in soil deficient in plant food. Improper germination can be avoided by 
tbe use of proper seed and tbe methods of planting already described. 

Insect pests have thus far not proved extremely destructive. The garden web- 
wortn {Eurycreon rantalis) has been perhaps the worst pest. The worm is not quite 
an inch long, pale or dark yellow, marked with distinctly jet black spots. It feeds on 
a great many plants, and has several natural enemies. The worm spins for itself a 
delicate silk cocoon in the debris on the ground at the top of the beet and transforms 
to the chrysalis stage, in which it remains from one to two weeks. The young worms 
devour only the surface and substance of the leaf on the side where they are, leaving 
the veins and opposite epidermis untouched, producing a skeleton leaf. Where the 
tops are not intended to be 
fed to stock, Mr Lawrence 
Bruner, entomologist Ne- 
braska station (Bulletin 16) 
recommends spraying with 
a solution of one pound of 
London puride or Paris 
green in 200 gallons of water, 
applied with the modern 
spraying apparatus, by 
which the poison is dis- 
tributed in a very fine mist. 
The pale flea beetle 
{Systena blanda), varying 
from black to nearly yel- 
lowish white, gnaws the 
leaves full of holes upon 
either side, causing a blis- 
ter-like appearance, like 
leaf spot or leaf blight. 
Spraying with kerosene 
emulsion drove it away and the arsenical spray effectually removed it. Other flea 
beetles and blister beetles are sometimes destructive and if necessary can be destroyed 
as just described. A variety of bugs and a few leaf hoppers are sometimes destructive, 
the most practical remedy for them being to destroy their natural food plant. 

The various cutworms sometimes do much damage by eating off the small beet 
plants in May and June, in Nebraska. All of these cutworms have parasites that usu- 
ally keep them from breeding very rapidly, except when some unusually favorable 
conditions of soil or climate occur. The very best remedy that has thus far been sug- 
gested and tried against cutworms is the use of poisoned grasses, cabbage leaves, or 
clover. This is done by taking these substances and tying them into loose bunches 
and then sprinkling them with a solution of Paris green or London purple, say a ta- 
blespoonful to a bucket of water. Then in the evening scatter these poisoned baits 
over the field between the rows of beets, cabbage, etc. The worms will be attracted 




NEBRASKA SILO FOR BEETS. 

Cross section. The pile of beets is about 4 feet wide and 3 feet hiijh 
covered with six inches of soil. Before severe weather sets in, cover with 
six inches of straw, and then two inches of soil. V— Ventilating holes, one 
foot in diameter, every 5 feet. See Pages 105-107. 



114 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. " 

to them, eat and die. These baits should be renewed several times at intervals of 
two to four days, according to the state of the weather and the abundance of the worms. 

BEET SEED PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 

At least twenty pounds of seed per acre are required for planting sugar beets. 
At 12 to 20 cents per lb, this represents an investment of $2 to $4 per acre for jseed 
alone. When from 3000 to 20,000 acres of land are planted to beets for each factory, 
according to its size, it will be seen that this beet-seed question is a most important 
one. Up to the present time the bulk of the beet seed used in America has been im- 
ported from Germany and France. 

Experiments at the department of agriculture's sugar beet station at Schuyler, 
Keb, with later work by H. H. Nicholson at the Nebraska state experiment station, 
and the experience of our western beet growers, warrant the conclusion that Ameri- 
ca can produce its own beet seed. The Utah Sugar Co has 57 tons of mother beets 
laid by for planting for seed purposes early this spring, a scrapie of this lot being 
illustrated on Page 32. They are packed in dry sand and kept at a low temperature 
to prevent sprouting. These people are now raising quite a large amount of their 
own seed, have met with great success, and expect by 1898 to cease importing beet 
seed into Utah. Of course it is very necessary for those wlio are experimenting in 
raising beet seed to try small quantities of every variety that comes to their notice. 
Nicholson truly says that "We cannot build up a great sugar industry, stable and in- 
dependent, until we have all its absolute requirements in and on our own home soil. 
We must be free from all possible danger of having our seed supply tampered with, 
and we must develop varieties of beets adapted to our soil and climatic conditions." 
Prof Nicholson considered this matter quite fully in his address to the Nebraska 
beet sugar association, November, '97, from which we quote the following : 

The serious difficulty and the great danger — danger to the industry as a whole— 
in attempting to grow and use our own seed, lies in the lack of proper, 1 may be par- 
doned for saying the lack of scientific, selection of parent beets. In this question, of 
the selection of mothers, is the key to the whole situation. It is a purely scientific 
question— a question that has been reduced to an exact science by the great breeders 
and seed growers of France and Germany. If we would not meet disaster, we should 
sit at their feet and patiently learn the details of procedure. 

If, for example, we select this year our best beets— those that will average l'> per 
cent in sugar— for seed, we will undoubtedly obtain very satisfactory results when 
this seed is planted. By continuing this process year after year we will soon have 
difficulty in finding 16 per cent beets— the average sugar content and purity will be- 
gin to drop, in accordance with a natural law tiiat all animal and plant life, especially 
those cases where special features have been artificially developed, tend to return to 
lower forms. 

To keep ou*" beets up to a high grade, then, we must keep introducing props and 
supports in the way of careful selection in regard to specific points. This introduces 
into seed growing the elements of science and of expense and lifts the business into the 
position of a specialty, to be followed only by those content to make it a lifework. 

It is a question, perhaps, whether there is yet a sufficient demand for seed in this 
country to justify the specialist or the cajntalist, or both, to enter upon the profession 



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116 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

of breeding beets for seed, as that is what it amounts to. Naturally, the business of 
produeins the seed begins under and is fostered by the factory management. It is 
greatly to the credit of the American manufacturers tliat they' have thus early taken 
the initial steps. But, as has been indicated, the attendant expense, the necessity 
for special knowledge, and the extreme care necessary at every step, soon throws the 
business into the hands of specialists. 

As has been intimated, the problem presents two important phases, first to pro- 
duce seed of a very high grade, and, second, to maintain this grade against a constant 
tendency to retrogression. The solution of these questions has demanded not only 
the practical experience and skill of seed men, but all the resources of scientific in- 
vestigation. For tliese reasons there has grown up in the sugar-beet-producing re- 
gions of Europe a class of professional beet-seed growers. Some of these, as Dippe 
Brothers, Knauer and Schreibei% in Germany; and Vilmorin, Desprez, and Legras, in 
France, have made reputations world-wide and have amassed fortunes in the busi- 
ness. Their methods are based on strictly scientific principles. Details of jirocedure 
vary according as this or that feature is made more prominent. In no case do 
these, or other reputable growers, allow seed to go on the market until it has reached 
a certain standard of excellence through several years of upbreeding. 

As an examjile of the extreme care necessary to maintain seed at a high grade, I 
will briefly outline the ordinary practice of the Dippe Brothers, on their extensive 
beet farms at Quedlinburg, Prussia. Assuming, for the start, seed ol the highest at- 
tainable quality. This is planted in the spring in the usual manner and the crop 
cared for in all respects as a good beet farmer would liandle a crop for the factory. 
In the fall, at the time of harvest, the beets are carefully examined as to their phys- 
ical characteristics of form, color, size, shape, condition of leaves, and method of 
growth. Those coming up to a standard previously fixed upon are reserved for seed, 
while all others go to the factory. This selection usually reserves from one-sixth to 
one-eighth of the crop as mother beets for the next season. In the early spring of 
the second year, these mother beets are taken from the silo and subjected to a chemi- 
cal analysis, for the purpose of securing, for planting, only those of high sugar con- 
tent and purity. 

The analytical process, in brief, consists in taking a small sample from each indi- 
vidual beet in such a manner as to fairly represent the whole beet — this does not in 
any way injure the root for i^lanting. The juice is then expressed from the sample 
and polarized. In this way, all of the beets reserved the previous fall are divided 
into three classes, viz: First, tliose that fall below a certain minimum per cent of 
sugar, say 16 per cent, these go to the feed stable; second, those that in sugar con- 
tent run retiveen 16 per cent and 18 per cent will be planted as seed-prod'icing or 
mother beets; third, thuse that run above 18 per cent in sugar vfill be planted for 
seed to keep up the stock. 

For convenience, we will call these Classes I, II and III, and confine our atten- 
tion to Class II. When this chemical selection has finally been made, the beets in 
Class II are planted. In the autumn the seed stalks are cut, the seed thrashed out, 
cleaned, and put away for the winter. In the following spring— the third from the 
start— this seed is planted, but in a manner a little different from the ordinary, inas- 



IHE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



11? 



timch as the rows are closer together and the beets are thinned to a distance of fx'om 
three to four inches, tlie object being to produce a very small and rich beet. The 
usual summer care is given, and in the autumn these very small beets are harvested; 
another selection on the basis of their physical characteristics is made, and those re- 
tained are carefully stored for the winter. In the spring of the fourth year these 
small and very rich beets are planted for seed production. According to this method, 
seed to be ottered for sale comes on the market in time to be planted during the fifth 
year after the first steps in its production were taken. This plan, or one similar, is 
adopted by all successful seed-growing specialists in the old country. Of course, aft- 
er the first lot is ready for market, each succeeding season furnishes a crop. The 
only long delay comes in 
starting. 

The questions of ex- 
penses and profits can hard- 
ly be touched upon in this 
paper. During the four 
apparently unproductive 
y.ears, while he is maturing 
his first crop of seed, the 
seed grower is marketing at 
the factory six-sevenths of 
his beet crop. With the 
harvest of the first crop of 
seed, and thereafter, he will 
have to sell both a crop of 
beets and a seed crop. 

Attempts to reduce such 
propositions to a basis of 
figures are always hazard- 
ous. The main features, in this case, are clear enough that I will venture on somp 
approximations as to the amount of land required and the current operations and 
expenses during the four years that the first crop is being prepared for market. 

Assuming that 80 tons of seed are needed to supply the present demand in this 
state, and that we are to attempt to supply this with a well-bred native seed, I will 
follow, in the main, the plan of the German seed growers. We will start the first 
year with ten acres planted with the best seed attainable. Assuming an average 
yield of ten tons per acre, we will harvest 100 tons of beets. Making our selection for 
mother beets will remove from sale about one-seventh, or some fourteen tons. We 
will have for market, then, 86 tons of beets. 

The second year will see the first year's operations repeated in every detail. 1:^ 
addition, we have to make the chemical selection of mother beets for planting, from 
the 14 tons reserved the previous autumn, and the planting and caring for, say, one 
acre of seed beets. Assuming now 28,000 beets to be analyzed and selected; two 
chemists, with proper nppliances and assistants, can make 4000 tests per day, or this 
selecting can be made in seven days at a cost not to exceed $500, including everything 




CROSS SECTION WISCONSIN SILO. 

See Pa<?e 115 for general view of these silos. The pile of beets Is about 
6 feet wide and 2>^ to 3 feet high, covered with IS inches of soil, with a (V) 
ventilating tile every 6 feet tliat can be closed after the beets have sweated. 



118 THE SUGAR INDUSTKY. 

thing except the laboratory and its permanent equipment. In this selection we wiil 
retain one-seventh of the beets, giving us 4000 roots, enough to plant one acre— the 
remaining six-sevenths go for cattle food. We have in operation, then, land as fol- 
lows : Ten acres sown with seed and one acre planted with mothers. 

In the fall the beet crop is harvested, selections made as before for mother beets, 
and the remainder sent to the factoiy. Seed is harvested, cleaned, selected, and 
stored for the next year's use. The books for this season would show a small excess 
of expenditure over income. 

The third year, all operations of the second year are repeated in detail. In addi- 
tion ten acres of choice land will be sown with seed selected from the previous jear's 
crop, with the object of producing small and very rich beets. In the fall we will har- 
vest a crop of beets for the factory and to furnish mothers for the next year; a crop 
of seed for further selection, and a crop of small beets of this year's growling. Land 
in use this year: ten acres sown with original seed; ten acres sown with our own seed 
of the previous year ; one acre planted with mother beets. The books of tliis year 
will also show an excess of expenditures over income. 

Fourth year; all of the work of the third year is repeated. In addition to this, 
we plant 100 acres with choice roots from the small and very rich beets grown the 
previous year. This fall we will harvest beets for the factory and for mothers; seed 
for further selection; small, rich beets for final seed production, and from 80 to 100 
tons of seed ready for the market. As&uuiing 80 tons of seed, and a price of 15 cents 
per pound, the seed product of the fourth year would be worth $24, 000. 

If care has been observed at every step in breeding, this seed ought to be worth, 
by reason of the higher return it will yield both to the grower and manufacturer, at 
least five cents per pound more than foreign-grown seed. Each succeeding year now 
of operation, on the basis and on the scale of these preliminary years, will yield for 
market from 80 to 100 tons of seed, worth from $24, 000 to $40, 000. 

To actually produce the seed requires, then, the use of not more than 150 acres of 
land at one time. A proper rotation of crops would demand, for seed growing on tlie 
scale thus briefly and imperfectly outlined, not less than 040 acres. 

Of course, there will be many difficulties to be met and overcome. In this state, 
one of these will be the prevalence of winds at certain seasons of the year. It is pos- 
sible that this trouble may be met by planting rows of corn at intervals among our 
seed beets, to act as wind breaks. Certain it is that we shall find some way to meet 
that and similar difficulties. 

European beet growers and manufacturers have established careful rules to secure 
the best quality of seed. They require that the seed must be from the last crop. It 
must be of such quality that 100 large seeds must furnish 150 sprouts, and 100 small 
seeds at least 130 sprouts, these should show within 14 days from the beginning of the 
test. Not more than 20 per cent of lifeless seed will be admitted. Moisture in the 
seed should never be more than 15 per cent of the total weight, because more of it 
causes mold, which injures germinating jiower. There must be about 45 seeds per 
gram, or about 22,500 per pound for large seed. 



CHAPTER IV. 
COMMERCIAL ASPECTS OF THE BEET SUGAll INDTJSTKY. 

COST AND PROFITS OF BEET CULTURE. 

Experience affords widely varying data as to the expense of producing beets and 
the proflts of tlie crop. In unfavorable seasons, or when growers have not learned 
how to raise the crop most economically, expenses may be comparatively high and 
the yield inferior in quality and quantity, thus making the cost per ton very high. 
Mr Leavitt, an extensive Nebraska beet grower, informs us that his lirst crop cost 
him 1^44 per acre to "lay by" until ready to harvest, to which had to be added ex- 
penses of digging and delivering to factory, so that even at $.5 per ton they yielded 
but little if any profit on the crop ordinarily obtained. But his sixth successive crop 
(1896) cost only $11 per acre to lay by, and at $4 per ton the crop yielded a substan- 
tial profit. This is probably a greater saving than will occur with the average beet 
grower, but it illustrates in a striking way the j)ossibilities of economy in beet pro- 
duction. The value of land, expressed either in rent or interest and taxes, and the 
amount and cost of fertilizers employed, are also varying factors, as well as yield. 

We caution farmers and capitalists against basing estimates upon extraordinary 
yields per acre, either in quantity or quality. While it may be that the crop may oc- 
casionally go as high as 20 or 25 tons per acre, and return an apparent profit of $40 to 
$60 per acre, that is no more a fair criterion to go by than to judge of the possibilities 
of corn culture on the basis of a yield of 135 bushels of crib-cured shelled corn per 
acre (which was grown in the American Agrieidturisfs contest in Marlboro countj'. 
South Carolina, in 1889), when a fair average yield of corn is 25 bushels per acre. 
Here is the place for farmers to start right, and not to deceive themselves with fancy 
figures. Far better for all concerned to go into this industrj on so conservative a 
basis that their estimates are excelled in actual results, than to start with exagger- 
ated ideas, failing to realize which causes discouragement and disaster. 

On this point Mr Weitzer, field manager for the Norfolk factory reports: "Our six 
years' experience in Nebraska has shown us that seven tons of beets per acre pay for 
all the team work (at 50 cents per hour), all the hand labor (at 7i to 15 cents per 
hour) performed on the field, also for seed, rent of land and machinery and freight; 
all of the yield above this tonnage being clear profit. Ten tons may be regarded as 
an average crop per acre, although much higher yields are made. A good farmer, who 
takes the right care of the crop and selects proper land, should, in an average season, 
raise not less than twelve tons per acre. Our old beet growers even claim to be able 
to raise, in a good season, by using richly manured bottom land, 25 to 30 tons per 
acre, which yield has already been obtained by several parties." 

Valuable information upon this point is furnished by a tabulated statement of the 
experiences in 1896 of 49 growers of 1442 acres of beets for the Norfolk and Grand 



120 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

Island factoriej, as collected by the Nebraska beet sugar association, and published in 
its Hastings proceedings for 189(3. The area harvested by each grower was from 3 to 
80 acres, averaging about is acres to each farmer, exclusive of one who raised 455 acres 
and another with 174 aci-es. At the time of the Hastings convention, Nov 17, about 
half these beets had been delivered to the factory, the balance being ensiled for de- 
livery later. The reported yield was 17,924 tons from the 1442 acres, or an average of 
12i tons per acre, ranging from 8 to 20 tons per acre— the larger yields upon the smaller 
tracts. The proceeds for beets sold were estimated at $90,01(3, or $62. 40 per acre. This 
vv^ as based on $5 per ton for beets, of which $4 was paid by the factory and $1 was 
claimed under the state bounty offer. If the latter is not paid, the gross proceeds 
are about $12.50 per acre less, averaging just about an even $50 per acre. The ex- 
penses reported average $36.88 per acre, leaving average net profits of $13 per acre, 
as follows : 

Pel" acre For 1442 acres 

Cost of seed, *3.00 f4,36;i 

Rent of laml, -------- 3.96 5,708 

Value of all labor, 25.56 36,076 

Other expenses, 4.36 6,302 

Total expenses, ..-.-.. $36.88 «)53,349 

Profits, $13.12 $18,751 

Total receipts at S4 per ton, - ... - $.50.00 $72,100 

This shows an average cost of just about $3 per ton of beets delivered to the fac- 
tory, including wagon haul and railroad freight, on a crop of 121 tons per acre, over 
nearly 1500 acres in various sections of Nebraska, and representing all soi'ts of culture 
and soil. Closer analysis of the returns shows that the larger yields of the more 
careful cultivators were produced at a cost of $2 to $2.50, and in one or two instances 
even less. It is to be regretted that these figures are based on estimates at close of 
season, not upon actual accounts, though our inquiries indicate that the items of cost 
are above the actual, if anything. 

It is to be remembered, however, that the foregoing figures are for an exception- 
ally favorable season. They are based upon the experiences of the better growers 
also — intelligent men, experts, of several years' experience; the other kind, who most 
need its help, don't attend the beet growers' meetings. Even the best men could not 
make so good a showing for the unfavorable year of 1S95. Yet here are the figures 
for the '95 crop upon 40 acres grown by Pettihger Brothers at Albion, Boone county. 
Neb: 



EXPENSES. 

Seed for 40 acres, $107.00 

Hami work at $12 per acre, 480.00 

Extra labor, 150.00 

Topping beets at .f3 per acre, 120.00 

Freight at 80c per ton, 538.40 

Total, $1300.40 



PKOCEEDS. 

577% tons dressed beets over 

12% sugar 80 purity at $5 

per ton of 2000 lbs, $2888.33 

46yg tons inferior at .$2..50, 115.83 

Received for siloing 258 tons at 30c, 77.34 

Total, $3081.50 



Deducting the expenses reported ($1399.40) from the gross proceeds ($3081.50), there is left $1682.10 
as the net return for the team work, use of land, iiay for superintendence and profit. This is $42 i)er 
acre for these items on a crop that dressed nearly 15 tons per acre, wlieii sold at $5. This price includes 
the $1 state bounty. Deducting that, or $15 per acre, leaves $27. A detailed statement of Pettinger 
Brothers' experience is printed on Pages 126-127. 

Mr K. M. Allen, president of tlie Nebraska beet sugar growers' association and 
of the American sugar growers' society, says that the result of his six years' experi- 
ence is that "The cost of growing beets to farmers in Nebraska is from a minimum of 



THE BEET SUGAR INDL'STRY. 1:^1 

$2 per ton delivered at the factory, up to a ligure where it becomes unprofitable to 
raise them even at $5 per ton. The average cost to farmers probably ranges from 
$2.50 to $3.50, with an average yield of from 10 to 12 tons. These fl-ures do not 
include rent, fertilizers, or profit. The first two large areas of beets raised under 
my own charge cost $3.60 and $3.80 per ton, respectively (actual book accounts), the 
first being a year of very high cost and the second a drouth year of decreased yield." 
Mr Allen submits detailed statements of these (1893-4) crops as printed below, but 
we understand his 1896 crop was grown at very much less expense. 



RESULT OF CROP. 
1893 
Number of fields grown, 21 
Number of acres grown, 500 
Lowest yield per acre, 9 tons 

Highest " " " 30 " 

Average " " " 171,' ■< 

Net delivered at factory, 15 •' 
Gross tonnage, 8700 

Net tonnage shipped, 7514 

Shrinkage, 13.43% 

Total cars shipped, 436 

Average sugar content, 11.94 % 
Highest " " 15.50 % 

Average purity, 77 % 

Highest " 86 % 



1894 

23 

569 

6.6 tons 
19.5 " 
10 net tons 
10 " " 
6165 
5803 
5.8% 
340 
14.95 % 
18% 
T!)% 
86 (7,. 



Cleaning off corn stalks, 

Plowing, 

Harrowing, 

Rolling, 

Seeding, 



EXPENSES PER ACRE. 

1893 

$3.50 

2.20 

1.30 

.50 

.40 



First hoeing, 4 00 

Thinning, 1300 
Two times hoeing after thinning, 12.00 

Cultivating, 2.15 

Seed, 2.25 

Cost of laying by, 41.30 

Harvesting, g qo 

Hauling and loading, 6.75 

Total cost of crop per acre, $54.05 

C.)st of beets per net ton, $3.60 
a Manuring, b Secona hoeing $5.25. 3d $4.81, 4ili 

$2.91 per acre. ('Plowing out cost $2 per acre, 
iniUing and topuing .$4. 



1894 

a$2.00 

2.01 

.50 

.31 

.30 

1.44 

5.84 

612.97 

1.82 

2.00 

30.16 

C6.00 

2.13 

$38.29 

$3.82 



111 Utah, the average cost of cultivating, harvesting and delivering a crop of l-> 
tons of beets per acre to the factory, not to exceed four miles distant, is from $28 to 
$3o,and at $4 per ton this leaves a net income of $13 to $20 per acre, besides the $28 
or $35 worth of labor furnished by the farmer and his fami'y and teams, for which he 
gets paid in cash. Going into more detail, the Utah Sugar company says that if 
everything Is hired or if the lal)or is charged for at the price it would cost to hire it 
the expense of cultivating beets in Utah would be about as follows: "Preparing soil 
for seed, $3.50 per acre; that is, plowing, harrowing, leveling, rolling and the neces- 
sary work to mnke a proper seed bed. Twenty pounds of seed per acre will cost $3 
and planting with the seed drill 50c per acre. Thinning costs about $5 per acre but 
this Item will be less after a few years' experience. The second hoeing is as neces- 
sary as the thinning, and costs $2 per acre. We irrigate two to five times, as the case 
maybe, averaging three times; at 40c per acre for each irrigation, this would cost 
$1.20, though It may cost more the first season. We cultivate six times, three before 
irrigation and three after, at a total cost of $14.40. Plowing out the beets in the fall 
will cost $1 per acre. We pay 50c per ton for pulling and topping the beets, «hich 
for an average yield of 12 tons, is $6 per acre. This makes a total expense of $30.60, 
exclusive of use of land and manures, paying highest market prices for all labor. " 

One of the most extraordinary financial statements ever made bv an American 
beet grower is that submitte.l by .James Bardin, of Monterey Co, Cal. In 1892 he 
shipped 60S2 tons of beets to the Watsonville factory from 225 acres of land, makin- 
the plienomennl average of 27 tons of nres.sed beets per acre. The cost of seed and 
planting averaged 85. 12 per acre, harve.sting $7.45 per acre, cultivating and weeding 



I:i2 THE SUGAR INDUbTRY. 

was done by contract by Chinese at $1.65 per ton, while the freight was 75c per ton. 
This made a total cost per ton of $2. S:^, and as the beets were sold at $5 per ton at the 
factory, it left $2. 17 per ton for the use of land and net profit. Adding net gains 
from stock fed on beet tops, Mr Bardin shows an average return of $59.33 per acre 
for his own time and use of land, or a total profit of $13,352. Mr Bardin says there is 
just as much money now in raising beets at $4 per ton as there was then at $5, 
because freight has been i-educed 25c per ton, contracts for taking care of crop, hoe- 
ing, thinning, topping and loading into wagons have been reduced 65c per ton, and 
the crop can be handled 10c per ton cheaper now on account of improved machinery, 
making a total of $1 reduction to offset the decline of $1 in the price. 

Mr Bardin writes us that in 1893 and 1895, he was not directly interested in 
growing sugar beets. In 1894, lie planted 450 acres to this crop, but the land was not 
in good condition and the yield averaged only lo| tons per acre dressed weight. Part 
of the tract was new land that had not been cleaned but one year, and some had been 
planted to crops which the beet does not follow well. In 1896, he planted 260 acres, 
which were all harvested before Oct 1 and averaged between 16 and 17 tons per acre 
for the whole tract. One of these fields of 80 acres, planted the first week in March, 
yielded 25 tons of dressed beets per acre. Another field of 100 acres was not all 
planted until the latter part of April, and owing to the extremely dry season made 
not more than 8 or 9 tons per acre. If the season had been favorable, he believes the 
whole tract would have avei'aged 25 tons and is perfectly satisfied with the crop as a 
profit earner, when sold at $4 per ton. 

Mr liardin's items for planting the 225 acres first mentioned were: Labor $450, 
seed $180, use of beet drill $22.50, barley fed to teams when planting $10.50, hay fed 
(at $8 per ton) $200, wear and tear of tools $150, total $1,152.50 for planting. The 
detailed account for harvesting shows that the expense was $1677. Caring for the 
crop was contracted for by Chinese at $1.60 per ton, or a total of $10,166; freight at 
75c per ton cost $4561, making the grand total for all expenses $17,556. The receipts 
being $30,908, left the net profit above stated of $13,352. This is an extraordinary 
result of an extraordinarily favoi-able season, which even Mr Bardin himself has not 
since been able to duplicate. Moreover his land is in beets only one season in three 
years, and his last crop averaged only about one-third as large a crop as the phenom- 
enal results in '92. Even under the most favorable Californian conditions, therefore, 
it is safe to discount this result fully one-half and we doubt very much if the major- 
ity of California beet growers average $30 per acre per year, for use of land, for their 
ability in running the business and for net profits over and above all other expenses 
of every kind and nature. 

ACTUAL KXPERIENCE OF FARMERS IN RAISING BEETS ON A LARGE AND SMALL SCALE. 

Petti nger Brothers of Albion, Boone Co, Nebraska, writing in September, 1896, 
said : "Nebraska farmers are only just beginning to know a small part of what there 
is to learn about farming, and especially sugar beet raising. In Boone county, the 
first sugar-beet crop was planted in 1884. Our first crop contracted for consisted of 
ten acres. The soil was prepared and the crop planted the best we could with such 
instructions as were given by the factory, but the soil was a little sandy, and during 



THE BEET SUGAK INDUSTRY. 133 

June about liaJf the crop was cut off by drifting sand, or buried out of sight; what 
was saved yielded about six tons to the acre. While this was a very light crop, we 
felt encouraged to try again. At first we did our own hoeing and thinning, but have 
since had German-Russians to do this work; they are by far the best and cheapest 
labor. The following spring, we contracted to put in 40 acres. The soil is a slightly 
sandy bottom land, just sandy enough to work nicely, with a good clay subsoil. The 
field planted in '95 had been a timothy meadow for about 12 years previous to plow- 
ing for beets. We plowed six or seven inches deep, following in the fall with a sub- 
soil plow, going to the depth of six inches more, stirring the soil thoroughly to the 
depth of twelve or thirteen inches and harrow- .... 
ing each day's plowing as it was done. For the 
seed bed, the field was gone over three or four 
times with a disk harrow, working the top 
thoroughly; then we took a railroad iron, put "^^««^=^«" IT,^^^^^ ^^^l""' ^^^^^ ^^^ ^ 
on eight horses and went over the ground until This leve.ex- is 28 ft long and bent sligi.tiy 
it was perfectly smooth. This smoothing iron i» ^''^ middle so tiiat it win not turn over— a 

. .,, , , & • curve of say 2 ft in the length of the iron. 

IS illustrated herewith and I like it better than '''''® 'worses are hitched far enough from the 

, -J. 1 - ends so that the draft of the teams will make 

a narrow, as it packs the soil better and makes t'le iron plow level. Hitch the iiorses so 

„„i i-ic 111 ., that the curve is to the front as portrayed 

a SplenUld, nne, seed bed, without which it is above, it the curve is to the rear, the iion 
r,e l^iif i;f+ir^ ,,c^ <-^ , 1 i 1 i Ti ,. „ will dip ill the middle and the ends draw up 

ot but httle use to plant beets. Preparation of and it win not work satisfactorily. '^ ^ "i' 
the soil is the main point; you cannot get the seedbed too good. One great thing is 
not working the top too fine. In this preparation, most of the work can be done with 
a disk harrow, as it does not crush all of the small clods, thus preventing blowing and 
cutting off by the fine dirt and sand that is driven over a field that has been so thor- 
oughly worked. Planting was begun May 1 and finished May 25. A little re-plant- 
ing was done June 10. A good stand has never failed us if the ground is in perfect 
shape at the time of planting. Planting is but littl« trouble, the seed being put in 
from Ho f of an inch deep and covered with a moist soil. The Jewell planter was used 
last year with good success. We never use fiat shovels in cultivation, preferring the 
goose-foot shovels, which we like much the best. Thinning is begun when the plants 
are two inches high. We bunch thin and clean all of the small weeds out at one time 
and are particular that this work is well done. Cultivation is kept up every week or 
ten days as long as we can get through them ; in all, about five times. 

"In 1895 the mode of work was changed but little from that of the preceding 
year. We were a little more careful as to details. Pains are taken that all weeds 
are killed before planting. Plant as soon as the soil is ready. Do not let it lay three 
or four days after it is ready to plant, as the weeds get just that much of a start. We 
think if we get our crop started right, future cultivation is easy. During the sum- 
mer of '95, most of our crop was irrigated the latter part of July or early August. 
Irrigation is what saved our crop from testing low, as they grev\ and ripened. Wlien 
the late rains came in the fall, they did not take on a second growth but retained 
their ripeness and sugar. Out of 56 carloads shipped to the factory, only four loads 
went below 12 per cent sugar and 80 per cent purity. Last year we did not irrigate, 
but I believe it will pay as a rule. Our beets were not as good last year as in '95; 
the early part of the season was too wet. The ground on which the '95 crop was 



134 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

raised was put to corn, beets and chicory last year; the corn was a good average crop 
of 50 bu or more per acre, the beets were as good as the average of the field, and the 
chicory from this field took first premium at the state fair. I believe that 12 tons can 
be raised every year if the work is done properly. The beet crop of '95 was heavy 
and it was impossible for the factory to receive and store what beets they could not 
work up bcffore they would freeze in the ground or in piles, so they gave the farmer 
about 30c per ton for siloing a portion of their crop and holding it five or six weeks, 
thus giving the factory a chance to take those siloed beets later in the season. This 
same crop furnished a splendid feed of beet tops for milch cows, making the entire 
feed for our 26 head from Oct 1 to Jan 1. They produced an extra fiow of milk and 
it tested high at the creamery. An acre of beet tops is worth from $3 to $5 as feed 
for cows and hogs, both of which eat them greedily." 

Here are some reports from farmers at Chino, Cal, for the seasons of 1891-4 inclu- . 
sive : E. M. Day planted 25| acres to beets, from which he harvested 409 tons, for 
which he received $1400. On his home place he had 5| acres, the beets from which 
brought $525, or $91.30 per acre. On another ten acres he harvested 204 tons, which 
brought him $4.50 per ton. This makes the returns for the ten acres $918, or $01.80 
per acre. The $1400 he received for his entire crop was all clear gain, except $40 he 
paid out for wages and $75 for seed and use of cultivator. Himself and two boys, one 
11 and the other 15 years of age, did enough work on their own crop and in exchange 
witii their neighbors to clear all expenses on their own crop except the $115 noted. 
In other words, Mr Day's summer work on his beet crop has brought him just $1284 
in clear cash. Besides this, he has taken care of, cut and harvested ten acres of 
alfalfa of his own, raised fourteen acres of barley, and did $50 worth of work cutting 
alfalfa and barley for other people. This will go a long way towards paying all his 
living expenses for the year, and his beet crop can be counted clear gain. Mr Day 
says he lived in Nebraska for twenty-five years and in all his farming experience he 
has never done as well as he has here, or found the product that paid as well as sugar 
beets. 

George C. Moore rented 36 acres, which he planted to beets. He did the team 
work and a large part of the labor upon thft crop himself, hiring no more than he 
could avoid. He is an energetic, painstaking and careful man, and his. care has been 
well rewarded. In making a statement of his expenses on the crop, he included his 
own labor and that of his teams. His actual expenses in money were therefore much 
less than the figures given. He sold 649 tons (at $4.25) for $2. 758. 25; expenses : Plowing 
$72, preparing ground $27, seed $64, planting $12, thinning $108, cultivating $25.20. 
hoeing $70, pulling and topping. $374.50, liauling $299.60, factory expenses $52.45, 
total $1,104.75; rent, 25 per cent, $6f<4.56; grand total, $1,789.31; net profit, $968.94. 

Peter Varner harvested from eighteen acres 360 tons of beets, or twenty tons per 
acre. For these he realized $3.90 per ton, or $1404 for his crop^$78 per acre. Less 
than three years ago Mr Yarner came to Chino with no capital whatever but his 
energy, his perseverance and his ]iluck. He has recently purchased $3000 worth of 
land for n home, and he is paying for it with money realized from beet farming. He 



THE BEET SUGAR IXDUSTKY. 



125 



says he is satisfied that there is no other line of farming in California in which he 
can do as- well a& growing sugar beets. 

X. S. Eice planted sixteen acres, from which he harvested 201 tons net or about 
12i tons per acre. At $5.60 per ton, these brought him $816.52, or $51.04 per acre 
gross. The money he actually paid out in raising and harvesting the crop was as fol- 
lovs : Seed $57, thinning $54, plowing and planting $30, topping $10, total $242. All 
the rest of the work was done by himself and no account was kept of it. This leaves 
his returns on the sixteen acres $574.52. 

W. C. Rightmier harvested from twenty-seven acres 400 tons, or an average of 15 
tons per acre. They analyzed between 13 and 14 per cent sugar, making an average 




DELVER FOR WORKING THE SUBSOIL. 

w^rir^^^fn"®^, °,^ *^'^ Character are not used in America, Imt are considered almost indispensable in Eurone Thf- 
work of tlie delver besoms where the snbsoil plow left off, the delver running after it to still more eenv stir th^^ luh 
TZ T '''" «''/V'^^^' '•'" least possible resistance to overcome in their descending developer Mr Ware sat 
in The Sugar Beet for November, 1896, from which our engraving is taken : " This delving operation is fremienflv onn 
unued even after the roots have attained considerable size, that is. after weeds are little To be dreTdeVand when tl,; 
cult.vaors are no longer necessary." It is easy to see how useful such an iniplenient can feco^nrespec Lry^d^^ 

price of say $4.10 per ton. This would give Mr Rightmier in the neighborhood of 
$61.50 per acre from his field. Another field of eight acres gave 172 tons of beets 
averaging 14i per cent sugar, 21i tons per acre at $4.50 per ton, or a return of $90.75 
an acre for the field. 

HOW THE INDUSTRY EMPLOYS AND PAYS LABOR. 

The chief item in raising sugar beets is labor. It constitutes from 60 to 75 per 
cent of the total expense of beets delivered to the factory, and in some cases even 
more. Out of average expenses of $36 per acre in Nebraska, over $25 was for 
labor. Mr James Bardin's 225 acres that produced such a profit in 1892 (see page 121 ), 
was sowed to barley the next year, the crop yielding 3500 lbs per acre and at 65c pel- 
cental made a net profit of $12.75 per acre-about one-fifth the profit on sugar beets. 
He paid for labor on this barley crop $360, while the labor on the beet crop on the 



12G THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

same land the year before cost $10,666. Adding $3500 for payroll to labor at factory 
during the time required to manufacture the crop into sugar, labor got about 
$15,000 out of this beet crop. In other words, for every dollar paid for labor on bar- 
ley, there were paid $41 for labor on beets, so that "for every man who gets a job on 
a grain crop, 41 persons get a job on beets." 

Skilled labor is not required for much of the work of pulling and harvesting, 
while some of the thinning and weeding can be done by boys and girls. The crop 
thus furnishes an extremely important home market for a grade of labor that other- 
wise would hardly be employed at all. Indeed, such labor can be worked to better 
advantage and more cheaply than Chinese contract labor. James Hopkins, Jr., of 
Watsonville does n<jt believe in paying $1 per ton of beets for Chinese labor, as his 
crop last year, worked with white boys and girls, cost him only 75c per ton for labor. 
Of course boys will be boys, and it is necessary to work in the field with them your- 
self, but under proper supervision boys and girls will work rapidly and well and are 
to be preferred to the contract system. If 25 or 30 per cent can be saved by employ- 
ing boys and girls, it amounts to many thousands of dollars each year. 

Ko other crop is so attractive to the laborer of all ages and grades of skill as the 
sugar beet. It gives employment not only to the farmer, but to ev^ry member of his 
family, pays them spot cash for this labor and yields a fair profit besides. J. W. 
Johnson made a study of this point in the Nebraska beet fields in '96 and reports in 
the State Journal : "The net profits of the growers, in one case amounting to $1400 
on 80 acres, does not alone measure the importance of the industry. Its value to the 
community consists chiefly in giving employment to all people who want to work, and 
to that class who are unskilled and can perform only the simplest kind of labor. 
Anyone who can handle a hoe or jiull weeds can earn money all summer in the beet 
fields. Anyone who can hold a sharp corn knife in one hand and a beet in the other 
can top beets and earn $1.25 a day. Any man can load beets into a wagon from the 
field and can shovel them out of the warehouse at the factory. All this labor is 
available to those who need labor most. There is $25 worth of cheap labor in every 
crop of beets produced. A large part of this goes into the pockets of poor people who 
have no ability to make plans for themselves, or to sustain themselves in any other 
way except by manual labor of the simplest kind." 

PRICE OF BEETS. 

The price paid for beets is for the net weight of trimmed and washed beets as 
delivered at the factory. When beets arrive at the factory, an average 50 pounds is 
taken from each wagon load, thoroughly washed, examined to see if properly topped, 
and then weighed again, the loss determining the tare. This tare should not be over 
5 per cent, if the beets are properly harvested and prepared. Two systems of paying 
for beets are in vogue, a straight price and a graded price. The beet grower who 
gets a straight price per ton knows what each ton will bring beyond question, and 
knows that he can sell all of his beets that come up to the required standard, which 
is usually 12 per cent sugar of 80 purity. Beets poor in quality are refused or 
accepted at a much lower price. On the other hand, if paid according to the amount 
of sugar in the beet, the careful farmer who grows rich beets will get a better price. 



THE BEET SUGAK INDU^STRY. 12? 

The Sprecke's factory at Watsonville and his new mill at Salinas pay a straight price, 
at present S4 per ton, though before the repeal of the McKinley bill it was $5 per 
ton. We believe the Alvarado factory has also paid a straight price. At Chino, how- 
ever, the lirst nve-year contract was based on $3.50 per ton for beets containing 12 
per cent of sugar and 25c additional for each-additional 3 per cent, and under it farm- 
ers received an average of $4.50 per ton. In 1896, contracts were based on $3.25 per 
ton with an additional 25c per ton for each percentage above 12, wluch has netted tlie 
growers nearly $3.78 per ton. To protect their interests, the growers are well organ- 
ized and choose their own weigher and chemist and also their own tare man, the 
expense being about 3c per ton. 

in Nebraska, at first $4 per ton was offered for 12 per cent beets of 80 purity, the 
price being advanced 25c for every additional percentage of sugar, up to $7 for beets 
containing 2f) per cent sugar, but it was afterwards found to be more satisfactory to 
have an average price for all beets above 12 per cent sugar with 80 purity, and tliis 
price was fixed at $5 per ton (including the $1 state bounty). If the beets run below 
this standard, they are accepted at half price. In Utah, the plan was tried of pay- 
ing different prices for different qualities of beets, but it proved so unsatisfactory to 
farmers, that one fixed price of $4.25 was established for all beets containing 11 per 
cent sugar of SO purity, the price for 1897 being $4, and beets below this standard 
are not accepted at all. Where the farmer is careful with his growing crop and at 
harvest sorts out all the large coarse beets, this crop will usually fulfill the contract. 

now TO GET A SUGAR FACTORY. 

The first step to take to get a beet-sugar factory, is to demonstrate that your 
township, county and district can grow the right kind of beets in profitable quan- 
tity. If your farmers have not demonstrated this fact, apply to your state experi- 
ment station for particulars about tests that have been made in other parts by the 
state. Get all the points you can from your experiment station— that's what it is for, 
to help your farmers and free of cost to them. Then from the instructions given in 
this book, let every farmer grow half an acre or less of beets. Have samples of all 
these beets analyzed at your state experiment station* to determine their sugar con- 
tent and purity. Keep a record of all these crops, the soils and conditions under 
which they were grown, yield, cost, etc. Repeat these tests a second and third year 
if necessary, to establish the fact that your locality is adapted to the crop. A small 
patch of beets on various soils on each farm is better for testing than a few large 
areas. The beets can be fed with profit to stock, if no factory is available to which 
they can be shipped. This sort of preliminary work has been done for years in many 
parts of California and accounts for the firm position of the industry in that state. 

Analyses of beets grown under all sorts of conditions and soils will enable any 
practical beet-sugar man to decide whether such locality can be depended upon to 
furnish beets in sufticient quantity and quality to operate a factory successfully. 
There is no doubt in the least of the reliability of the laboratory or analytical work 
of our sugar chemists. Consequently, we were surprised to have a gentleman who 
was supposed to know something about the industry advise localities wanting sugar 
factories to begin by establishing a small distillery. "With a capital of $30,000, such 
* See addresses of experiment stations at bottom of next page. 



us 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



a plant could work 30 tons of beets per day, using all roots furnished. Every gallon 
of pure alcohol obtained corresponds to a certain per cent of sugar in the beet. Then, 
after the farmers had learned how to grow beets, the purchase of beet-sugar machin- 
ery could follow." This suggestion is not practical at the present time, if indeed, 
it ever was. In the first place, analyses will determine the sugar content, and sec 
ondly, such a distillery would not pay. The tax on alcohol is too high and it requires 
.1 very large amount of grain to give to alcohol from beets the necessary life. 
Besides, the whisky trust would interfere with the sale of such a product. The 
thing has been tried with molasses from Grand Island at the Columbia distillery m 
South Omaha. It was found there was no money in it. Mr Thomas R. Cutler, man- 
ager of the Utah sugar company, informs us that he has investigated this matter thor- 
oughly in both American and foreign countries, and has concduded that in the United 
States it would be unprofitable. 

The beets and other essentials satisfactorily provided for, the one vital question 
becomes: Will farmers contract ''or a series of years to grow 2500 to 10,000 acres of 
sugar beets for the factory, depending upon its size, at an average of say $4 per ton 
delivered at factory, with the full benefit that may come from whatever state oi- 
national aid may be extended to the industry? The locality that is able to offer the 
best guarantee of this kind is the one that (other things being equal) will prove most 
attractive to any who may be seeking investment in sugar factories. 

To conduct all this work to the best advantage, a local organization is desirable. 
For this purpose let all interested unite in forming a local branch or the American 



* THK STATE AGIJICULTURAL EXPEUIMENT 

Where located, name and postofflce address of the direc 



Alabama— A iibiu-n: College Sta- 
tion; W.L. Broun. Uniontown: 
Canebrake Station ; H. Benton. 

Arizona -Tucson : W. S. Devol. 

Arkansas— Fayette vi lie; R. L. 
Bennett. 

California— Berkeley : E. W. 
Hilgard. 

Colorado— Fort Collins : Alston 
Ellis. 

Connecticut— NewHaven : State 
station; S.W.Johnson. Storrs: 
Storrs Station ; W. O. Atwater. 

Delaware— Newark : A. T. Neale. 

Florida— Lake City : o. Clute. 

Georgia— Experiment: R. J. 
Redding. 

Idaho— Moscow: C.P. Fox. 

Illinois— Urbana : E. Davenport. 

Indiana— Lafayette : C. S. Plumb. 

Iowa— Ames: James Wilson. 

Kansas— Manhattan: G. T. Fair- 
child. 

Kentucky— Lexington : M. A. 
Scovell. 

Louisiana— Audubon Park, New 
Orleans: Sugar Station. Baton 
Rcnige: State Station. Cal- 
houn : North Louisiana Station ; 
W. C. Stubbs 



Maine— Orono: C. D. Woods. 

Maryland— College Park : R. H. 
Miller. 

Massachusetts— Amherst : H. 
H. fioodell. 

Michigan— Agricultural College: 
C. u. Sniiih. 

Minnesota- St Anthony Park: 
W. M. Liggett. 

Mississippi— Agricultural c o 1 - 
lege: 8. M. Tracy. 

Missouri— Columbia : H. J. Wa- 
ters. 

Montana— Bo zeman : S. M. 
Emery. 

Nebraska— Lincoln : G. E. Mac- 
Lean . 

Nevada— Reno: J. E. Stubbs. 

New Hampshire— Durham: C. 
S. Murkland. 

new Jersey— New Brunswick: 
E. B. Voorhees. 

New Mexico— Mesilla Park: C. 
T. Jordan. 

New York— Geneva: State Sta- 
tion; W. H. Jordan. Ithaca: 
Cornell University Station; I. 
P. Roberts. 

North Carolina -Raleigh : H. 
B. Battle. 



stations, 

tor or jierson in charge. 
North Dakota— Fargo: J. H. 

Worst. 
Ohio— Wooster: C. E. Thome. 
Oklahoma— Stillwater: G. E. 

Morrow. 
Oregon— Corvallis : H. B. Miller. 
Pennsylvania— State College : 

H. P. Arnisby. 
Rhode Island— Kingston : C. O. 

Flagg. 
South Carolina— Clemson Col- 
lege : E. B. Craighead. 
South Dakota— Brookings: J. 

H. Shepard. 
Tennessee— Knoxville: C. F. 

Vanderford. 
Texas— College Station: J. H. 

Connell. 
Utah— Logan : L. Foster. 
Vermont— Burlington: J. L. 

Hills. . 
Virginia— Blacksbnrg: J. M. Mc- 

Bryde. 
AVashington— Pullman : E. A. 

Bryan. 
AVest Virginia— Morgantown : 

J. A. Alyers. 
Wisconsin— M a d i s o n : W. A. 

Henry. 
Wyoming— Laramie: F.P.Graves. 



130 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

Sugar Growers' Society. Then you will be leagued with similar efforts all over the 
country, provided the society is thus supported, and in many ways can benefit by 
such connection. 

As to financiering a sugar factory enterprise after it is demonstrated that your 
community can furnish the necessary beets, there are numerous methods. On gen- 
eral principles, we do not favor paying a bonus outright to secure an industry, 
although this is a very common method. If outside capital is necessary, it can usu- 
ally be attracted by the offer of the community that wants a factory to furnish a part 
of the money. Suppose, for instance, it is desired to erect a plant which, with working 
capital and all appurtenances, requires an investment of $500,000. Instead of offering a 
bonus of lands or money, let the community offer to take one-fifth or two-fifths or 
even one-half of the capital stock, provided outsiders will furnish the other half and 
the expert management the enterprise requires to be successful. Let it be constantly 
borne in mind that such management is quite as essential as capital. And if the 
community supplies some of the money, the enterprise will be assured of a more 
direct interest and heartier support than if it was wholly owned by outsiders. Farm- 
ers might take an interest in the factory by agreeing to pay for their shares partly in 
cash and partly in beets. Except in the very newest regions, where money is 
extremely scarce, the people in almost any county can raise a goodly sum of money 
for an investment of this kind if they X'eally mean business. Of course the rights and 
interests of all the parties to such a trade should be properly seen to, but as a rule 
we believe in this policy of home talent and home money building up home indus- 
tries. It fosters a spirit of thrift and enterprise that is often lacking in communities 
that are supported by industries operated wholly by foreign capital. 

If, however, the people of the locality will not put up any money on any of these 
plans, let them not find fault that they have to depend wholly upon outside capital. 
Judging from some of the criticism we have heard of the Oxnards' investment in' 
beet-sugar factories in Nebraska, some of the people of that state at least consider it 
almost a crime for an outsider to invest his money in new industrial enterprises! We 
can but believe, however, that such critics constitute only a small fraction of the 
population of that great state. Such critics should understand that other states are 
only too anxious to attract outside capital, and many towns seem to be ready to make 
.even extravagant efforts to obtain it. But we also feel that some of such enterpris- 
ing communities would accomplish more in the long run by putting more of their 
own money into these new industries. 

WHERE AND HOAV TO START A SUGAR FACTORY. 

In starting a sugar factory, it is necessary to erect the plant where thei'e is rail- 
road competition. Transportation of beets and factory supplies is a most important 
consideration, requiring the lowest possible rates. The sugar itself is also a bulky 
product, the distribution of which among local and more distant markets must be 
fairly considered. 

The nearer the factory can be to the beets, the better. Unlike other manufactur- 
ing enterprises, it should be in the beet fields and not close to a town. If it is possi ■ 
ble, the sugar factory should be located in the very center of farming districts, where 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 131 

at least 10,000 acres of good beet land could be controlled within a radius of not more 
than six miles, so that the beets can be delivered by wagon. This saves an immense 
amount of expense in railroad freights. Moreover, the factory cannot get quite as 
good results from beets grown at a distance as from those close at home that are 
delivered by wagon with the least delay after harvest. 

An abundant supply of pure water is imperative and perfect drainage is absolute- 
ly necessary. 

Plenty of pure lime rock, containing a very small percentage of silica, is required. 
Also coal, coke or oil for fuel. All these bulky materials should be available at 
the least expense for freight as well as first cost. 

No factory should be built with a capacity of less than 300 tons of beets per day 
of 24 hours, and it should be so designed that the capacity can be increased in future 
at the minimum o£ expense. The cost of operating such a plant is 25 to 50c per ton of 
beet worked less than for a factory with half this capacity. The limit of size beyond 
which profitable economies cannot be obtained seems to be about 1000 tons of beets 
per day, as the latest improved large factory— Salinas mill — is practically three sep- 
;arate outfits of 1000 tons capacity daily, but under one roof. 

It has been suggested that branch plants be established for making a crude prod- 
uct to be transported by rail to a central factory, where the process of manufacture and 
refining might be completed. Such plants for making a crude product would, of course, 
cost a small sum compared to the hundreds of thousands of dollars required in a large 
beet-sugar factory. Up to the present time, however, all experience with existing 
methods is against this proposition. Only the larger factories are able to run to-day 
in this or other countries, and many small factories in foreign parts have had to close 
their doors during the past few years of lower prices and increasing competition. To 
meet these conditions, it is imperative that the factory operate on a large scale and 
in such a way as to reduce to a minimum the expense per ton of beets or per pound 
of sugar. It costs relatively but little more for the experts and labor to operate a 
plant capable of working up 600 tons of beets per day than one of half that capacity. 
The beet is such a bulky product that every possible means must be taken advantage 
of to keep down the expense of handling or working it. There are many pretty the- 
ories about what might be done, but the average investor or farmer realizes the ne- 
cessity of sticking close to the latest improved methods that have demonstrated by 
actual experience to be money makers. 

Of course improvements in sugar manufacture are even more likely to be made in 
the future than in the past. There has been much talk of late of the new process of 
crystallization in motion, the Seffens process, osmosis and several others, but it costs 
enormously to introduce them and it is a question to be decided in each case whether 
the result pays in dollars and cents. American genius may yet solve these and many 
other problems, including the matter of small factories, refining, etc, but meanwhile, 
those who are in the business for reveime will let the "other fellow" do the costly 
experimenting. In order to compete with the sugar trust, our American beet-sugar 
factories have been equipped with refining outfits and chus realize the refiners' prof- 



132 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

its. Mr Ware says that in Europe, the tendency is to abandon this plan, the facto^ 
ries making raw sugar to be shipped to refineries. 

It is quite possible that the system of branch factories tributary to a central i^lant, 
similar to the Cambria factory in France, may at some time be established in the 
United States. The Cambria central factory is located in the midst of beet tields and 
IS also near limestone quarries and coal mines, and has water transportation for all 
these raw materials. There are 10 rasping stations, the cfurthest being nine miles 
away from the central factory, with which they are connected by pipes at these sta- 
tions. The beets are washed, weighed, sliced, and run into the diffusion batteries in 
the way common in American beet-sugar factories. The juice from the diffusion bat- 
teries is then treated with a solution of lime to keep it from acidulating and is forced 
through pipes to the central sugarhouse, where it is at once carried forward in the 
manufacturing process in the usual way, with certain modifications. This concern 
works up 3000 tons of beets daily and with its rasping stations gives employment to 
2000 men, women and children. 

How to build a factory. — All preliminaries having been satisfactorily adjusted 
and the company ready to build a factory, let it invite bids from the various Ameri- 
can firms that make a specialty of this work. The announcements of these experts 
will be found at the close of this book. They are sufficiently numerous to insure 
competition and the lowest prices consistent with quality of the machinery required. 
Some of these concerns can also furnish expert managers to conduct the sugar factory 
through the first campaign, until others can be educated for the purpose. We cannot 
too strongly urge our readers to in this way get the benefit of all American experi- 
ence, as well as competition among factory contractors and outfitters. 

COST OF A BEET SUGAR FACTORY. 

Kilby Mfg Go's estimate of approximate cost of building a sugarhouse and refinery of a daily (2-1 
hours) capacity of 350 to 400 tons of beets. 

Stone work, foundations and floors, ..--.--- $12,500 

Steel and iron, structural frame and roofs, ....-.- 16,500 

Brick work, 12,000 

Windows and doors, ......-.--. 650 

Hardware, ............ 700 

Painting, -.-.......--. goo 

Tarred paper for roofs, .....-...- 300 

Vitrified pipe, 900 

Cornice, cutters and leaders, ..-.....- 300 

Lumber, 5,000 

Freights on materials, ........-- 4,000 

Erecting labor of steel and iron frame, -...-.-. 2,000 

Beet sheds and storage for beets, .....--. 5,000 

Pulp silo, 4,000 

Complete machinery for refinery, ....-.-- 225,000 

Machinery foundations and masonry for boilers, ...... 5,000 

Fire clay, fire brick, etc, for boilers, kilns, etc, ...... 4,500 

Pipe covering, ........-.-- 2,500 

Labor erecting and starting machinery, ....... 20,000 

Hardware, belting and other fixtures, ........ 5,000 

Freight on machinery, .......... 35,000 

Salaries erecting superintendent and necessary help to superintend erecting .ind 

starting of sugarhouse and refinery, including traveling and other expenses, 15,000 

Total, $376,650 

The Walburn-Swenson Co writes : "The cost of machinery complete for a factory 
of 300 to 350 tons of beets per day, the whole to be of the very best design and work- 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



13:3 



manship and capable of making white sugar direct from the beets, without any 
refining, would be in tbe neighborhood of $170,000 on cars in Chicago. The machinery 
for a factory having double this capacity would cost in the neighborhood of !li260, 000. 
The cost of a first-class brick building, including boiler house for the smaller size 
factory, would be from forty to fifty thousand dollars. This would also include foun- 
dations, lime kilns, etc. Just what the cost of the sheds for holding the beets would 
be, I cannot say, but I am of the opinion that four or five thousand dollars would be 
sufficient to cover this item. All the castings, etc, for the lime kiln are included in 











A BIG PILE OF BEETS AT ALVARADO, CALIFORNIA, 

Showing also the sluiceway of i-uniiing water by which the beets are carried into the factory. 

the price of machinery, and the brick work would be easily within the above cost of 
buildings. A building for the larger plant would probably cost $75,000. There 
is no doubt but what there is a great misconception as to the cost of a fac- 
tory of this kind, and many people write us, thinking that with an old building and 
second-hand boiler and engine that has been used for some other purpose, they have 
a good nucleus for a beet-sugar factory, and for twenty or thirty thousand dollars it 
can be all fitted up. Any attempt of this kind is simply throwing money away, and 
it would be a great misfortune to the beet-sugar business to have it gone into with- 
out sufficient capital to erect a factory of proper size, as well as of the most modern 



184 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

construction. The machinery, of course, comes very high, but it must be built in 
such a way that there will be no mistake about its working, as breakdowns and 
delays are fatal to the industry during the short season they have to work." 

As competition increases the number of machinery builders and the demand for 
apparatus of the same kind and dimensions increases, these prices will doubtless be 
reduced. 

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SUGAR FACTORIES. 

A factory having been well located, properly constructed and equipped, its proper 
management involves three essentials. First, expert or scientific oversight of the 
processes of sugar manufacture; second, the utmost economy, good managemen:^ and 
businesslike methods in conducting the work of manufacture, seeing to it that there 
is no unnecessary expense or waste, that labor and machinery are constantly 
employed to the best advantage and that all the operations of manufacture are man- 
aged in the best way possible; third, proper financial or business management, in 
obtaining supplies, selling the product and attending to the manifold and extensive 
financial operations involved in so large an enterprise. 

The thoroughness with which each of these essentials is observed will govern the 

j profits of the enterprise. No one should put money into the business on the supposi- 
tion that it is a bonanza that can be conducted carelessly or wastefully or in defiance 
of business principles. Within a few years, the number of sugar factories will be 
such that, with competition from abroad in the despprate efforts of the. foreign sugar 
industry to throttle American interests, only the best-managed concerns will operate 
at a satisfactory profit. The fact that a plant can run only about one-third of the 
year, makes the "dead season" a long one, and also increases the depreciation in 

; machinery. The earnings of the business should be sufficient not only to pay a rea- 
sonable dividend upon the capital stock, but also to keep up the plant, and to charge off 
liberally for depreciation. Unless this is done, after a few years repairs will not only 
consume all profits but perhaps require additional capital. Even in Germany, many 

: failures have occurred in sugar factories, but in 90 per cent of the cases, bad manage- 
ment was the direct cause. 

"Great progress has been made in the actual science of sugar extraction. Not 
many years since, it was considered highly satisfactory if molasses residuum repre- 
sented 4 per cent of the total weight of beets worked while now in many factories If 
per cent is the least amount that is considered to represent good work in German fac- 
tories. An improved process of sugar manufacture in Germany is claimed to greatly 
reduce the bulk of molasses, to only 1.38 per cent of the total weight of beets worked 
at the factory. In a German factory working under favorable conditions during the 
past campaign, the beets averaged 12.92 per cent sugar and the extraction was 12.2(1 
per cent, the loss consequently being 0.00 per cent of the weight of the beets. This 
loss was made up as follows: In the residuum cossettes 0.25, waste water from diffu- 
sion 0.12, filter press scums 0.25, second filter scums 0.03, which means a total of 0.65. 
leaving 0.01 per cent unaccounted for. There was consumed limestone 4,6 per cent 
weight of the beet, coke 0.69 per cent, fuel 10. 2. lbs per lb beets." 

Mr Ware also cites a 550-ton factory (in Germany), where the expense of factory 
operation of $2.03 per ton of beets in 1893 was by closer management reduced to $1.52. 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 135 

three years later, when it was for fuel 43c, lime and coke 16c, labor and siloing 56c, 
maintenance and depreciation 15c, sundries 22c. 

AS TO CO-OPERATIVE SUGAR FACTORIES. 

A great deal of loose talk has been indulged in upon this subject. Farmers and 
others who would not co-operate or work together to conduct the simplest form of a 
country store, creameiy or co-operative marketing, have proclaimed learnedly as to 
the advantages of co-operative sugar factories. The ideas expressed have been in the 
main crude and unbusinesslike, though the object sought is highly conmiendable. 

In this, as in all other co-operative effort, it should be distinctly understood that 
co-operation is not a new method of conducting business but simply provides a differ- 
ent method of dividing the profits of industry— to labor or produce rather than to cap- 
ital. "The same principles that govern success in acquiring profit on capital, apply 
to the acquirement of profit to divide upon labor. Industry, application, persever- 
ance, good judgment, all are required in the co-operative as in the existing methods 
of industry. Co-operation is not a means whereby the business of production and 
distribution will run itself and pour a golden stream into the pockets of the people. 
True co-operative effort is by no means independent of the everyday principles that 
underlie success in any undertaking or business." 

Especially is this true in the beet-sugar business. The factory must be located, 
built, equipped and managed with the utmost wisdom and in the best possible way. 
This can only be obtained by employing persons of experience in the industry, pref- 
erably those who have had experience under American conditions. These experi- 
enced persons must also be reliable, or they may so conduct the enterprise as to use 
much more money than is absolutely essential. All these points must be properly 
safeguarded, whether the sugar factory is owned co-operatively, or by a stock com- 
pany, or by a single individual. In either case, it must be run on the same business- 
like basis. Indeed, a factory that is owned co-operatively— that is, by beet growers 
in part in connection with others— should even be better managed than a private 
enterprise, because so many are ready to criticise the slightest mistake. Farmers 
who think a co-operative factory is one that will pay them more per ton for beets of 
inferior quality than a private factory can afford to pay for rich beets, will be wo- 
fully deceived. A factory can get no more out of the business than there is in it. 

In a strictly co-operative factory, each shareholder has but one vote, irrespective 
of the amount of money he has invested. Out of the receipts of the business, the 
co-operacive factory would first pay all expenses, a reasonable sum for depreciation 
and reserve, a fair rate of interest on capital, and the balance would be divided pro 
rata on the beets furnished, just as the co-operative creamery pays for butter. If the 
season is good, the beets rich in sugar, and the markets favorable, under good man- 
agement such a co-operative factory might possibly pay more than one conducted by 
the ordinary system, but under unfavorable conditions, the loss would come upon the 
beet grower for the co-operative factory, as against the stockholder in the capitalistic 
factory. In other words, true co-operation means that the co-operators assume the 
risk of the losses as well as the profits of the business. 

If farmers are willing to go in with all these points thoroughly understood and 
on a basis that will insure proper management, then co-operative sugar factories may 



13G THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

be attempted. To embark on so gigantic a scale on any other basis is folly doomed 
to failure. The whole country is strewn with wrecks of co-operative failures due to 
failure to appreciate the above facts, and to absence of the co-operative spirit. On 
the other hand, certain forms of co-operation have been made a great success in the 
United States. The author's book, How to Co-operate (price 50c in paper, $1 in 
cloth, from Orange Judd Company), may be consulted for further particulars. 

BRILLIAXT OPEXING FOR CAPITAL. 

Providing always that the American market is reserved for the product of Ameri- 
can farms and sugar factories, it can be demonstrated by figures based on actual 
experience that a sugar factory enterprise is a fairly profitable investment, if prop- 
erly managed from beginning to end. Without such management, even a gold mine 
will fail to pay. 

Detailed estimat'^s of expenses and profits vary so widely with varying conditions 
that it is useless to attempt to submit any here. Such an investment in a beet-sugar 
factory, under the above conditions, should be able to pay an annual dividend of six 
to ten per cent on its capital stock, after making liberal allowance for depreciation 
and setting aside a reserve for contingencies, maintenance and improvements. This 
is after the enterprise is well established. The first few years it might not do as well 
as this. Some failures will occur if any of the well-known essentials to success are 
neglected. 

Under favorable conditions the industry may Y^ay more than this. But take it 
one year with another, conservative management should readily divide six to ten 
per cent, besides keeping the property in such shape as to be able to close out the 
business at any time and return the shareholders one hundred cents on the dollar. 
To do this, however, the factory nmst net at least four cents per pound for its sugar 
and with proper legislation to protect against subsidized foreign competition and to 
guard the industry so far as possible against monopoly at home, this price may be 
expected to prevail for some years. The sugar could then be retailed to the con- 
sumer at about present prices, and American farmers, laborers and capitalists would 
put into their pockets the millions upon millions that now go abroad for sugar. 

Without such legislation, however, this promise will never be realized. We have 
seen during the past three years the almost utter ruin of our old established cane- 
sugar industry, simply because the American market has been open to free sugar from 
Hawaii and to bounty-fed sugars from Europe. It cannot be too often reiterated 
that unless the American market is reserved for American sugar, the outlook for our 
domestic sugar industry, both beet and cane, is indeed poor. J3ut protect the indus- 
try in the American market for a few years, and it will then be able to hold its own 
against the world. Indeed, we shall be surprised if this policy does not make Amer- 
ica the greatest sugar-producing nation on earth. 

ADVANTAGES OF THE INDUSTRY. 

Assuming that the American market is assured for American sugar (unless this is 
done, we might as well drop the business right here and now), the advantages of the 
industry may be thus summarized : 

To agriculture, it affords a new crop that puts into the farmer's pocket money 
that would otherwise go out of his community and out of the country; by thus reduc- 



THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



137 



ing the area of other crops, it helps all farm values; the beet requires eood farming 
and is an educator in thrift and does not rob the soil. 

To labor, the beet-sugar industry offers a new field for employment of both skilled 
and unskilled labor of all ages, and pays a satis- 
factory price for it in money that would other- 
wise go out of the community and out of the coun- 
try. 

To capital, i't pays a fair return and under 
proper management should prove an absolutely 
safe investment. 

To other industries, the beet-sugar business 
contributes largely. It builds up thriving com- 
munities and gives new life to other industries. 
It is roughly estimated that an investment of 
upward of three hundred million dollars would 
be required to build and equip a sufficient num- 
ber of factories to supply the American market 
with sugar, which vast sum would be distributed 
among the mining, manufacturing, building and 
machinery trades. The annual expenditure tor 
labor and materials, such as coal, lime, coke, bag- 
ging, chemicals, oils, etc, would amount to mil- 
lions of dollars. 

To real estate, the beet-sugar industry creates 
value. Chino ranch lands that are now worth 
$100 to $200 per acre were hardly salable at $80 
to $60 per acre before the factory was located 
there. Our attention has been called to a fine 
tract of 30.000 acres of land in California which 
can be "quietly bought up at $80 per acre and 
after a factory is successfully established will be 
worth at least $100 per acre." We consider this a 
conservative statement. 




SOME CAUTIONS IN THIS INDUSTRY. 

No one state has a monopoly of the beet-sugar 
industry. Some Nebraska farmers have an idea 
that the business will be confined to their state 
because it has two factories in successful opera- 
tion. Such people have only to read this work 
to be convinced of their error, iloreover, hun- 
>dreds of enterprising communities are anxious 
many of these will doubtless do so. 

There are plenty of such communities in a 
farmers are not only ready and eager to contract 



CROSS-SECTION OF A 

SUGAR BEET. 

A section or cuttins; down through the 
niltUUe, showing the alternate rings or cylin- 
ders of compact fiortions and those liiore 
translucent, tlie former containing ratlier 
more sugar, and the latter more salts and 
all)uminoids. Tlie lower or smaller part of 
the beet generally has a larger percentage of 
sugar than tlie laraer upper nart. Ulnstratiou 
reduced from Kulletin 27, United States De- 
partment of Agriculture. 

to secure beet-sugar factories, and 



dozen or twenty states where the 
to furnish any reasonable quantity 



138 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 

of beets for a term of years for four or five dollars per ton, but the farmers, business 
men and others in the community are ready to put up their money to build and equip 
the sugar factory. So soon as the American market is insured for American sugar 
many of these embryonic efforts will take on definite proportions. 

The idea prevails among some people, however, that sugar factories can be had 
for the asking. Some of the places embraced in our list of towns that want sugar 
factories seem to have the idea that to be put "on the list," is all that it is necessary 
for them to do to secure a factory. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is 
well to be in this list, so that any interested parties may communicate with you, but 
if you think you can sit still and have a half-million-dollar sugar factory for the ask- 
ing, you are very much mistaken. Why? Because, as stated in the preceding para- 
graph, hundreds of communities that do not believe in the "sitting still policy," are 
making determined efforts to secure factories. 

As a rule, the most difficult thing has been to get the farmers to understand how 
necessary it is to prepare the soil for the beet crop. If the land is at all hilly, it 
shoula be scraped down, as the beet field should be as level as possible. Another 
difficulty is that the average farmer does not appreciate the necessity of care and 
thoroughness in every detail with the crop. In raising sugar beets, it is absolutely 
necessary to get rid of the idea of trying to save necessary labor. The crop cannot 
be slighted, as can potatoes, corn or small grains. 

Another error which farmers in the older beet-growing regions are but just learn- 
ing to avoid, is to be satisfied with a reasonable tonnage. Too much manure or too 
much irrigatipn will produce beets large in size and of great tonnage per acre, but 
such beets are often late in ripening and usually are inferior in sugar content and 
purity. It is impossible to extract sugar from beets when the beets do not contain 
the sugar. 

Don't try to utilize old buildings for a sugar factory. A factory, to operate 
profitably, should be constructed for this special purpose, so as to save every possible 
item of expense, it might be possible to adapt an old building to sugar-factory pur- 
poses and perhaps save a few thousand dollars in first cost, but in nine cases out of 
ten, this would be "saving at the spigot to waste at the bunghole. " The increased 
expense of operating such a plant, owing to the necessarily inconvenient arrangement 
of the outfit and work to adapt it to the structure, would rapidly eat up the saving in 
first cost and thereafter would be a constant extra expense. 

Neither is it wise to bother with second-hand machinery or apparatus, unless the 
same is comparatively modern and strictly adapted to the purpose in view. To con- 
duct either a beet-sugar factory or cane sugarhouse to advantage, the latest, best and 
most improved outfits only can be employed. This is what your competitors have 
now or will have, and you cannot expect to compete with them with anything else. 
If a second-hand outfit is offered you, be sure to get the judgment of a well-qualified 
expert, like Mr Salich for instance, before doing anything with it. In these days, 
however, such investments are likely to be unprofitable. 

It may be that in the eastern and middle states, where the soil has been better 
cultivated and fertilizers have been used, that the land requires different treatment 
than at the west, where the soil has received little culture and no fertilizers. Mr Lap- 



THE BEET SUC4AR INDUSTRY. ^39 

ham, speakins from results and experience in Virginia, would in no wise depart from 
the methods that have been best in Europe, 

Beets should never be raised on a large scale by any grower the first year, unless 
he IS willing to spend a large amount of money and does not consider the loss,' if any 
occurs. For the average western farmer it would be advisable not to raise more than 
three acres the first year, and every beet grosver should make it his rule to follow 
the advice given by the factory as near as possible, and leave his experiments until 
the second season. 

Look out for the promoter or grower who "knows it all." The more experience 
sensible men have in field or factory, the more they find there is to learn. 

One of the greatest needs in the American sugar industry, is for scientific and 
practical experts to manage the large number of factories required to produce the 
sugar this country consumes. To supply this need, one or more sugar schools should 
be established by government in connection with sugar factories. It is by such tech 
nical education that Germany has developed the industry so rapidly and successfully. 
Another great need is more definite knowledge about the culture of beets. Much 
can be done at all of our experiment stations. The various states in which this 
industry is developing should also offer prizes for the best results in beet-sugar cul- 
ture, to the farmers producing them for factories. The prizes should be governed 
not only by yield and quality, but by the intelligence and correctness with which an 
account is given of the methods of culture, expense of production, etc. There is a 
loud call for accurate data on all these points. This book is an effort to supply this 
demand, but circumstances in different sections vary so widely that much must be 
done in each state, and in different parts of each state, to get at exact facts and best 
practice. 

No factory enterprise should expect to make money during its first two years. 
There is always much educational work to perform of a costly nature, although much 
of this work has been done by existing factories. 

A gentleman who has had long and costly experience in this industry and with 
sugar factories writes us privately, regarding factory enterprises: "Avoid jumping to 
conclusions; take plenty of time in studying up the question of where to locate, espe- 
cially guarding that which is most important,— an abundant supply of raw material; a 
good supply of water; good fuel, lime rock and coke at a reasonable cost; railroad 
facilities, and where you are to market the product of your factory, making a long- 
time contract with your railroads, on sugar out and material in, especially beetl 
Always select a place where the beets can be grown in the immediate vicinity of the 
factory, and never attempt to build a poor factory, or any at all, unless you have 
abundant capital to see you through the first few years, which are always largely 
expeiimental. Secure the best possible talent. A cheap superintendent is one of^he 
gravest mistakes. A year can be well spent in investigating before starting such an 
enterprise. The great thing to be guarded against is. that people who have neither 
money nor experience in the business will become promoters and that factories will 
be put up that must fail." 

We hope there will be no attempt to overdo this business. The over-booming, 
over-promoting and over-financiering of railroads and similar schemes in the west 



140 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



ten and twenty years ago, that did much to bring on the depression from which the 
country is now happily recovering, should be avoided in this sugar industry. Let us 
keep the whole thing down to hard pan basis, so that every step taken will be a dis- 
tinct gain, and the whole industry developed on a substantial, businesslike and per- 
manently successful basis. To this end, the author contributes the present book. 
He invites correspondence as to every point not sufficiently covered herein, that the 
deficiency may be made \ip in a later edition. 



Communities That Want Sugar Factories. 



Fostoffice 



Pboenix 

Olyphant 
Fort Smith 
Fort Siuitb 
Rogers 

Ohino 

Vacaville 

Napa 

Wheatland 

Ciiico 

Salinas 

Fulton 

Gridley 

Mosca 
Rhone 

Pueblo 

Denver 
La Salle 



Naugatuck 

De Funiak 

Springs 
Ocoee 

Aubnrndale 
St Cloud 



Payette 
Leduc 



Alma 

Monterey 

Litchfield 

Niota 

Milford 

Mt Carmel 

Chemung 

Forest City 

Monmouth 

Ottawa 

Kanl^akee 

Momence 

Chemung 

Nekoma 



County 



Name 



ARIZONA. 

Maricopa W. S. Devol 

ARKANSAS. 

Jackson C. E. Frizzell 

Sebastian H. H. Hoover 

Sebastian S. A. Williaujs 

Benton H. B. \\ oo<lcock 

CALIFORNIA. 

SauBernardiuo Valley Sugar Co 

Solano E. G. Davis 

Napa C. L. James 

Yuba E. E. Oakley 

Butte J. McStilson 

Monterey James Bardin 

Sonoma A. Bannister 

Butte L K. Vaugham 



COLORADO. 



Costilla 
Mesa 

Pueblo 

Arapahoe 
Weld 



J. R. Patterson 
Henry R. Rhone 
Suburban Land & 
Investment Co 
Lute Wilcox 
R. W. Devinny 



CONNECTICUT. 

New Haven F. H. King 

FLORIDA. 



Walton 

Orange 

Polk 

Osceola 

IDAHO. 

Canyon 
Blaine 

ILLINOIS. 

Marion 
Fulton 
Montgomery 
Hancock 
Iroijuois 
Wabash 
Mc Henry 
Mason 
Warren 
Lasalle 
Kankakee 
Kankakee 
McHenry 
Henry 



S. E. W^olf 

T. L. Joyce 
Irvine Page 
Col Allen Thomas 



Eugene Autz 
P. Leduc 



W. S. Ross 
D. W. Kelsey 
R. S. Nelson 
.Tacob Zeh 
I. D. Gillura 
W. H. Wildey 
Joseph Kuliby 
A. D. Brown 
C. E. Cornell 
C. E. Fishei 
Leon Hay 
Will Lewis 
Joseph Kuhler 
Robert Lapan 



Fostoffice 



County 

ILLINOIS (continued). 



Name 



Mulkeytown 

Havana 

BuflfaloGrove 

Polo 

Ottawa 

McHenry 

Pittstield 

Jerseyville 

Metropolis 

City 
Morrison 
Galesburg 
Effingham 

Fort Wayne 

Bluffton 

Wabash 

Columbia 
Ciiy 

Monroeville 

Aurora 

Monroeville 

Blufftown 

Logansport 

Elwood 

Land 

Dana 

Zionsville 

Owensville 

Francesville 

New Har- 
mony 

Morocco 

Fort Wavne 

Liberty 

Madison 

Evansville 

Delphi 

Newcastle 

Lowell 

Columbus 

Seymour 

Vinceunes 



Franklin 
Mason 
Lake 
Ogle 
Lasalle 
!Mc Henry 
Pike 
Jersey 

Massac 

Whiteside 

Knox 

Effingham 

INDIANA. 

Allen 
Wells 
Wabash 

Fayette 

Allen 

Dearborn 

Allen 

Wells 

Cass 

Madison 

Whittey 

Vermilion 

Boone 

Gibson 

Pulaski 

Posey 

Newton 

Allen 

Montgomery 

Jefferson 

Vanderburg 

Carroll 

Henry 

Lake 

Bartholomew 

Jackson 

Knox 



IOWA. 



Gr'd Junct'n Greene 

Wapello Louisa 

Diagonal 

Fontanel le 

Schaller 

Newell 

Spencer 



Ringgold 

Adair 

Sac 

Buena Vista 

Clay 



Scott Clark 

E. A. Wallace 

J. VVeidner & Sons 
J. N. Sanborn 
I. B. Lovejoy 
J. Van Slyke 

F. L. Schriver 
A. \\ . Cross 

A. N. Starkes 

E. A. Smith 
Robert Cliappel 
William Dyke 



S. Bash & Co 
L. A. Williams 
S. Haas 

J. M. Harrison 

W. Dickerson 
J. Small 

N. R. Spaulding 
W. K. Shoemaker 
J. H. Barnhait 
W. E. Broyles 
Lewis Deems 
W. B. Hood 
J. W. Lane 
Levi Skelton 
W. Benson 

F. Mumford 

J. M. Rogers 
H. C. Rockhill 
Ben Snvder 
C. E. Cosby 
C. Cordes 
V. L. Ricketts 
A. D. Ogborn 
J. Dinwiddie 
W. T. Stott 
J. H. Hodapp 
Edward Watson 



Mrs C. D. Park 
W. S. Kremer 
O. B. Overliolser 
F. M. Daiigherty 
E. W. Bennett 
J. Jenson 
J. C. Winset 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



141 



Posioffice 



Greene 

Aiues 

Dubuque 

Davenport 

Clinton 

Charles City 

Fort Dodge 

Muscatine 

Waterloo 

Mason City 

Britt 

Keokuk 

Casey 

Waukon 

Priuigliar 

Le Mars 

Des Moines 

Sidney 



County 

IOWA (CONTINU 

Butler 

Story 

Dubuque 

Scott 

Chnton 

Floyd 

Web:iter 

Muscatine 

Biackliawk 

Cerro Gordo 

Hancock 

I>ee 

Guthrie 

Allamakee 

O'Brien 

Plvmoutb 

Polk 

Fremont 



Humboldt Allen 
N'th Wichita Sedgwick 
Indep'nd'uce Montgomery 

TopeKa Shawnee 

Irving Marshall 

Ellinwood Barton 
Oketo Marshall 

North Topeka Shuwnee 



Topeka 


Shawnee 


Paola 


Miami 


Ida 


Allen 


Rosedale 


Wyandotte 


Leoti 


Wichita 


Saliua 


Saline 




KENTUCKY 



Lexington Fayette 
Hopkinsville Christian 
Valley St'n Jefferson 
Morganfield Union 
Carrollton Carroll 



Warsaw 
Hartford 
Cloverport 
Jackson 



Gallatin 
Ohio 

Breckinridge 
Breathitt 



Name 

ed). 

E. H. Beal 
James Wilson 
M. H. Moore 
Bus's Men's As'n 
S. M. Highlands 
J. W. Brown 

J. B. Butler 
W. G. Block 
C. P. PSratnober 
G. C. Winter 
Dr A. J. Cole 
Art'nur H. Moody 
G. W. Osgood 
H. E. Teeple 
J. H. Wolf 
G. E. Richardson 
A. H. Meyer 
J. E. McKee 

J. J. Amos 
S. F. Toler 
Mrs A. B. Clark 
Investment 
Trust Co 
Grant Ewing 
C. Kattenholm 
C. M. Knight 
W. E. Clark 

F. D. Coburn 
E. T. Ahrens 
C. F. Scott 
Henry Senecal 
J. G. Donuell 
L. A. Will 



B. M. Cole 
T. E. Elgin 

W. W. Moremen 

C. F. Hart 
O. M. Wood 

D. B. Wallace 

S. A. Anderson 
John D. Baggage 
T. M. Morrow 



Postoffice County 

MICHIGAN (continued). 



Xame 



LOUISIANA. 

New Iberia Iberia J. T. White 

Schriever Terrebonne J. T. Moore, Jr 
Crowley Acadia John P. Hoyt 

MAINE. 

■'^HLrbo? Hancock J. H. Armstrong 

Waldoboro Lincoln W. H. Levensaler 

Saco York C. H. Tuxbury 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Springfield Hampden Nathan D. Bill 

Shirley Vil- 
lage Middlesex B. S. Binney 

MICHIGAN. 



Niles 

Oak 

New Era 

Fenton 

White Cloud 

Petoskey 

Port Huron 

Capac 

Mt Pleasant 



Berrien 
Wayne 
Oceana 
Genesee 
Newaygo 
Emmet 
St Clair 
St Clair 
Isabella 



J. T. Barker 
J. C. Jackson 
J. E. Farnham 
F. A. Bosworth 
W. E. Fulkerson 
A. O. Jenne 
Cyrus Hovey 
S. C. Draper 
T. P. Collin 



Eaton 
Oceana 



Charlotte 
Cranston 

Port Huron St Clair 

Millington Tuscola 

Yale St Clair 

Chevington Sanilac 

Dearborn Wayne 

Roseburg Sanilac 

Kalamazoo Kalamazoo 

White Cloud Newaygo 
Benton ^^^^.^^ 



Harbor 
Port Huion St Clair 
St Ignace 
Alpena 



^lackinac 
Alpena 



:Mt I'leasant Isabella 



G. M. Feun 

E. Morrissey 
L. B. Rice 
W. J. Haines 
J. H. Merrill 
S. A. Hillmau 
W. H. Manwell 
J. Aver 
J. E. Welborn 
M. D. Haywood 

F. R. Gilson 

L. A. Siierman 
C. G. Cavanagh 
W. T. Sleator 
W. E. Preston 
J. D. S. Hanson 
S. D. Brown 
L. E. Davy 
MiltonCarmichael 
A. E. Palmer 
R. Hanson 
Traverse CityGranc. TraverseThonias T. Bates 
Marshal Calhoun W. J^. Gregg 

Clinton 

Osceola 

Montcalm 

Wayne 

Antrim 

Shawassee 

Sanilac 

Kalamazoo 

Lenawee 

Menominee 

Washtenow 

Huron 

Newaygo 

Otsego 



Hart 

Lapeer 

Clare 

Detroit 

Kalkaska 

Grayling 



Oceana 

Lapeer 

Clare 

Wayne 

Kalkaska 

C' raw ford 



Ovid 
Ashton 
Pierson 
Northville 
ISIancelona 
Durand 
Shabbona 
Galesburg 
Clinton 
Nadeau 
Willis 
Pigeon 
Newaygo 
Gay lord 

Sault de phiimewa 

Sainte Marie ^"^PPe^a 

Cheboygan Cheboygan 



Saginaw 

Rush City 

Faribault 

Winona 

Madison 

Stockton 

Madison. 

Dawson 

Hinckley 

Chaska 

St James 

Winona 

North Held 

Cloquet 

Winona 



W. H. Faxon 
Wilson Showalter 
M. H. Holcomb 
Morris Lancaster 
Geo Irwin 
H. D. Soule 
David Leslie 
James H. Wolf 
A. T. Kishpaugh 
G. T. Werline 
C. E. Lord 
A. Kleiusclimidt 
Will Courtright 
Charles Wyllys 

William Chanaier 

E. O. Penney 
R. F. Johnsoa 



Saginaw 

MINNESOTA. 

Chisago P. A. Stevens 

Rice O. F. Brand 

Winona Max A. Goltz 

Lac Qui Parle P. K. Haslernd 
Winona J. A. Moore, Sr 

Lac Qui Parle J. H. Guenther 
Lac Qui Parle A. J. Peterson 
Pine J. J. Folsom 

Carver F. E. Du Toit 

Watonwan F. B. Lynch 

F. L. Randall 
John Lawson 
Fred Yilbert 
W. E. Walker 
Peter Becker 
B. M.Hungerford; 



Winona 

Rice 

Carlton 

Winona 
Belle Plaine Scott 
Aitken Aitken 

Bovd Lac Qui Parle E. P. Johnson 

Wortbington Nobles 0. M. Crandall 

MISSISSIPPI. 

Natchez Adams C. B Browuell 



Marceline 
Maltbend 
Bucklin 
West Alton 
Ballwin 



MISSOURI. 

Linn 

Saline 

Linn 

St Charles 

St Louis 



S. H. Linton 
H. F. Knapp 
R. K. Kinnev 
P. A. Edalin 
E. L. Kern 



u-^ 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Postoffice County 

MISSOURI (continued). 



JVaine 



W. T. Baird 
C. W. Barrett 
Coiuiiiercial Clnb 



Kirksville Adair 
.iCanton Lewis 

iCliutou Henry 

JMontgomery Montgomery Dr'C. B. Faulcouer 

L^iry 

Boonville Cooper Joliu M. Hiimber 

MONTANA. 

Cascade (i. A. Oirav 

Missoula Verdie Spurgin 

NEBRASKA. 

Kedwillow G. B. Smith 

Lancaster jM. U. iMoret 

York L. M. Street 

Dixon S. P. Johnson 

Valley T. S. Harris 

Mayne F. M. Northrop 

Saline Frank Itoop 

Custer J. Keinliard 

Scotts Bluff C. H. Simmons 

Brown C. W. Potter 

Douglas Sec S Beet Ass n 

Nemaha W. H. Stowell 

Wayne F. A. Dearborn 

Cass 



Great Falls 
.Missoula 

Indiai^ola 
Lincoln 
York 
Wakefield 
Ord 
Wayne 
Dorchester 
Callaway 
Sunrio'.\er 
Ainsworth 
Omaha 
Auburn 
Wayne 
Weeping 
Water 
Gibbon 
Redcloud 
Schuyler 
Brokenbow 
Neligh 
Dorp 



Buffalo 

Webster 

Colfax 

Custer 

Antelope 

Logan 

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



A. L. Timblin 

C. H. Winchester 
W. L. .McMillan 
J. P. McCuUongh 
E. B. Pnrcell 
E.T. & C. J. Best 
Charles W.Parker 



Wolf borough Carroll 

NEW JERSEY. 

Annandale Hunterdon 
Hainesburg Warren 
Stanton Hunterdon 

Passaic Passaic 

Glen (Gardner Hunterdon 
High Bridge Hunterdon 
Blackwood Camden 



S. Brummitt 

M. F. Gand 
E. O. Ward 
Frank iJird 
D. Hepburn 
S. F. Bell 
J. H. Exton 
Charles F. Currie 



NEW MEXICO. 

Santa Fe S. M. Folsom 



Sante Fe 

Las Crnces Donen Ana 

Maxwell CityColfax 

Raton Colfax 

NEW YORK. 

McLean Tompkins 

Lansingvilie Tompkins 

Schodack T?pnsselaPr 

Landing ^^ensseiaer 

Brainard Rensselaer 

Bennettsville Chenango 



Potsdam 

Earlville 

Bondville 

Akin 

Union 

Falconer 

Westbury 

Alabama 

Newark 

W Ht^nrietta 

Middlebury 

Stockton 

Glovers field 

Port Byron 



St Lawrence 

Madison 

ISIontgomery 

Montgomery 

Broome 

Chautauqua 

Cayuga 

Genesee 

Wayne 

Monroe 

Schoharie 

Chautauqua 

Fulton 

Cayuga 



F. C. Barker 
E. S. Warren 
Maxwell Land 

Grant Co. 

B. L. Robertson 
W. J. Emmons 
J. W. Knicker- 
bocker 
J. D. Tompkins 
E. C. Ward" 
Harry H. Fay 

G. H. Clark 
L. W. Griswold 

Mosher 
ISlersereau 
Seal.v 
Shotwell 
Williams 
P. W. Stuart & Co 
W. S. Dunn 
W. E. Bassler 
P. M. Elmer 
W. H. Warren 
S. D. Gutchess 



J. K. 
E. K 
M. A 
J. M. 
H. J. 



Postoffice County Name 

NEW YORK (continued). 



New York 

Fonda 

Cot)leskill 

E Schuyler 

Nichols 

Burnt Hills 

Evans Mills 

Lj-otis Falls 

Fai rport 

Sterling 

North Chili 

Oswego 

lied Hook 

Phelps 

Ridgeland 

Ithaca 

Batavia 

Morrisville 

Watertown 

Potsdam 



New York 

Montgomery 

Schoharie 

Herkimer 

Tioga 

Saratoga 

Jefferson 

Ijewis 

Monroe 

Cayuga 

M o 11 roe 

Oswego 

Dutchess 

Ontario 

Monroe 

Tompkins 

Genesee 

Madison 

Jefferson 

St Lawrence 



Binghampton Broome 
Falconer Cliatauqua 

Trumasburg Tom]ikins 
Texas Valley Cortland 
Clinton Oneida 

Collins Erie 

Erin Chemung 

Amityville Suffolk 
Wells Bridge Otsego 
Pool vi lie Madison 

Yates Orleans 

Binghampton liroome 
Afton Chenango 

Lewis Essex 

Brookfleld Madison 



East Elma 

Unionsville 

Johnston 



Sidney 



Bismarck 

Hawkinson 

I^arimore 

Devils Lake 

Mandan 

Lisbon 

Canton 

Caledonia 

Prospect 

Bloomiiigbui 

Covington 

Napoleon 

Gr'd Rapids 

Defiance 

Dunkirk 

Chillecothe 

Mad River 

New Pliila' 

delphia, 
Cleveland 
Hillsboro 
(^uincy 
Sinithville 

Delta 

Wauseon 
Herring 



Erie 

Orange 

Orange 



M. Griffith & Co 
J. H. Beareroft 
A. B. Borst 
Jno Collins, Jr 
G. A. IngersoU 
S. Russell Jones 
Jerome Hibljard 
C. C. Merriam 
J. McMillan 
J. E. McFa.lden 
G. A. Osmuu 
Byron Wordeu 
J. A. Fraleigh 
W. H. Hicks 
Lewis Curtis 
I. P. Roberts 
J>avid B. Lent 
John Keidv 
Ed The Tinies 
E. J. Eastman 
E. F. Jones 
A. D. Warren 

E. A. Hawks 
Elehue Sweet 
J. H. Dodge 

F. J. <iuigley 
Leon E. Gooclrich 
T. W. C. DePuy 
A. D. Bunch 

G. M. Bronson 
E. H. Parsons 
I. E. Rogers 
Geo B.Burghdorf 
R. T. Moran 

M. L. Fisk 
Mrs Jas Hopper 
Clevel'd Cider Co 
Isaiah Yariuev 



north CAROLINA. 

Beaufort W. N. Archbell 



north DAKOTA. 



Burleigh 

Richland 

Grand Forks 

Ramsey 

Morton 

Ransom 

OHIO. 

Stark 

Marion 

Marion 
g Fayette 

Miami 

Henry 

Wood 

Defiance 

Hardin 

Ross 
Clark 

Tuscarawas 

Cayahoga 
Highland 
Logan 
Wavne 



J. A. Field 
R. A. Tyson 
T. C. Bruyere 
Wm H. Brown 
R. M. Tuttle 
R. T. Adams 



Fulton 

Fulton 
Allen 



H. A. Cavnah 
L. J. Russell 

E. G. Stockman 
L. Eggleston 

Z. P. Albaugh 
J. C. Davis 
J. Huffman 
J. O. Wissler 

D. F. Fryer 
James A. Wood 
C. B. Grain 

\ S. F. Sweitzer 
/ Dr H Troendly 
J. F. Kilby 
W. G. Richards 
J. M. Sullivan 
J. W. Buchanan 
Sergeant Bros & 
Saxton 

F. H. Kelsey 

E. L. Lurbiu 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



143 



J'ostoffice 



County 
OHIO (continued). 



Xame 



Urbana 

Coshocton 

Danhury 

N Bavaria 

Antwerp 

Clyde 

Leipsic 

Pleasant Hill 

Brunswick 

Utica 

GrandRapids 

Granville 

Akron 

Canal Dover 

Crestou 

Ravenna 

•Sandusky 

Crayon 

Delta 

Upper San- 

tlusky 
Paulding 
Meiiina 
Bucyrus 
Deshler 
Flushing 
Jerome 
Middle 

Branch 
Madisonburg 
Columbiana 



Champaign 

Coshocton 

Ottawa 

Henry 

Paulding 

Sandusky 

Putnam 

Miami 

Medina 

Licking 

Wootl 

Licking 

Summit 

Tuscarawas 

Wayne 

Portage 

Erie 

Cliainpaign 

Fnltou 

Wyandot 

Paulding 

Medina 

Crawford 

Henry 

Belmont 

Union 



J. Harlzter 
W. Burns 
H. Bredbeck 
J. A. L. Derr 
W. F. Fleck 
H. G. Gibbons 
J. A. Hummon 
Nathan Hill 
Anton Leister 
W. W. Reynolds 
Azor Thurston 
W. H. Williams 
F. A. Wilcox 
J. A. Wagner 
J. South 
J. H. Evans 
J. Jarecki, Jr 
B. F. Long 
M. S. Sargeant 

S. A. Cunea 

J. R. Ross 
F. H. Leach 
Ev'u'g Telegraph 
J. C. H. Elder 
James Parks 
H. Riebel 



Stark F. E. Immel 

Wayne B. A. Hoffman 

Columbiana Albert Sample 

OKLAHOMA. 



Pawnee 



Pawnee 



OREGON. 

Forest Grove Wasliington 
Corvallis Benton 

Newberg Yamhill 

Portland Multnomah 

Lebanon Linn 

Myrtle Creek Douglas 
Monitor Marion 

Oakland Douglas 

Knappa Clatsop 

Myrtle Creek Douglas 



H.E. Hollings- 
worth 

A. Buxton 
L. Walker 
F. A. Morris 
G. W. McCoy 
J. S. Hughes 
P. T. McGee 
J. R. White 
O. G. Estes 
C. Borglund 
Henry Trower 



New Castle 

Lancaster 

Roland 



PENNSYLVANIA. 

Lawrence J. A. Thaver 



Lancaster 
Center 



Falls Creek Clearfield 

Salem Snyder 

Wetona Bradford 

Prichard Luzerne 

Giegory Luzerne 
Penus Manor Bucks 

Meadville Crawford 



Coplay 

Littletown 

Butler 



Lehigh 
Adams 
Butler 



New BrightonBeaver 



J. Bosler, Jr 
H. R. Curtiu 
Amos Goss 

C. Miller 

D. Tracy 

W. W. Prichard 
R. A. Van Horn 
A. R. Ellis 
A. W. Williams 
D. H. Kline 
D. B. Alleman 
I. McJunkin 
R. McLaughlin 



Lanesboro Susquebanna J. A. Taylor 



SOUTH DAKOTA. 



Mitchell 
Yankton 



Davison 
Yankton 



Frank Weller 
J. W. Hanson 



TENNESSEE. 

Chattanooga Hamilton S. W. Divine 

Weakley T.C.Phillips 

Col J. B. Kille- 
brew 



Greenfield 
Nashville 



Davidson 



Postqfflce 



Gainesville 
Sugar Land 
Crockett 
Howe 



County 

TEXAS. 

Cooke 
Fort Bend 
Houston 
Grayson 



Logari Foster 

S'lt Lake Cty Salt Lake 
Rivertou Salt Lake 

Leamington Millard 
Hooper Weber 



Springville 
Rivertou 
Buena Vista 
City Point 
Staunton 
Emporia 
Kiclimond 
Irviugton 

Spokane 

Whitman 

Pasco 

Touchet 

Waupaca 

Juno 

Alderson 

Wolf Creek 

Old Fields 

Clarksburg 

Berryville 

Huntington Cabell 



Name 



F. A. Galigher 
Col Cunningham 
W^ C. Lipscomb 
Mrs H. Pomeroy 



Luther Foster 
E. G. Rognou 
T. P. Page 
B. P. Textorius 
R. C. Christensen 



VIRGINIA. 

Utah J. M. Westwood 

Warren R. McCoy 

Rockbridge A. T. Barclay 

Prince George R. Eppes 

Augusta O. K. Lapham 

Greenville H. W. Weiss 

Henrico R. A. Dunlop 

Lancaster W. McDonald Lee 



WASHINGTON. 

Spokane 

Whitman 

Franklin 

Wallawalla 

Waupaca 

Chehalis 



F. E. Elmendorf 

F. A. English 
A. A. Batcheller 
A. Farnsworth 

G. W. Ogden 
J. D. Schaefer 



WEST VIRGINIA. 



Monroe 

Monroe 

Hardy 

Harrison 

Kenosha 



W'aupaca 

Scandinavia 

Cedarburg 

Evansville 

Augusta 

Brill ion 

New Holstein 

Black Wolf 

Markesau 

Salem 

Barnuin 

Schotield 

Burnett S't'n 

Trevor 

Stoughton 

Bear Creek 

Winchester 

Merrillan 

Madison 

Neilsville 

Arkansaw 

Duiand 

Beaverdam 
Merrillan 
Marinette 
Barron 
Kewaunee 
Sumner 
!Manawa 
Port Wash- 
ington 

Chevenne 



WISCONSIN. 

Waupaca 
Waupaca 
Ozaukee 
Rock 

Eau Claire 
Calumet 
Calumet 
Winnebago 
Green Lake 
Kenosha 
Crawford 
Marathon 
Dodge 
Kenosha 
Dane 

Outagamie 
Winnebago 
Jackson 
Dane 
Clark 
Pepin 
Pepin 

Dodge 

Jackfion 

Marinette 

Barron 

Kewaunee 

Jefferson 

Waupaca 

Ozankee 

WYOMING. 

Laramie 



H. T. Houston 

G. T. Leatherman 

A. L. Miller 

T. Patton 

W. Braid 

A. J. Beardsley 

Frank Gruner 
C. H. Anderson 
T. Halpin 
H. L. Austin 
E. J. Frear 
E. G. Fuller 
A. A. Paulsen 
C. F. Hart 
W. T. Robinson 
E. N. Ripley 
J. M. Brownlee 
T. W. Clark 
H. Lawrence 
J. M. Orbis 
O J. Olson 
J. J. Weid 
O. H. Hanson 
W. A. Marr 
A\'. A. Henry 
L. B. Ring 
Fred Pittman 
Ingram & Good- 
rich 
H. R. Hawley 
R. H. Gile 
W^ C. Campbell 
C. C. Coe 
A. C. Voshart 
Walter iSLirsden 
Jas Flanagan 

Geo H. Crowns 
El wood Mead 



List of Illustrations. 



Adeline plantation, 26 

Adjustable beet seeder, 85 

Allen, Pres. R. M., 43 

Alvarado factory, 33, 109, 133 

Arrangement sugar factory, 37 

Boiler room, 9 

Caffery plant, 5 

California factories, 9, 15, 30, 33, 37, 4'-', 45, 47, 109 

Cane stubble digger, 27 

Chino boiler room, 9 

Chino evaporators, 42 

Chino factory, 45 

Chino lime kilns, 47 

Combination planter and cultivator, 87 

Cross section of beet, 7(5, 137 

Cultivator for cane, 27 

Cultivators, 94, 97, 99 

Cutting cane, 18 

Delver for subsoil, 125 

Diffusion batteries, 69 

Diffusion cells, 51 

Engine room at Lehi, 63, 65 

Evan Hall plantation, 21, 25 

Evaporators at Chino, 42 

Farwell, Chas. A., 19 

Field of beets, 72, 129- 

Filter presses at Lehi, 67 

Florida sugar plantation, 23 

Frontispiece, charts I, II, III. 

Gang plow, 79 

Good beets, 75, 77 

Grand Island factory, 53, 55 

Harvesting scene, 101 

Harvester, with topping arrangement, 107 

Harvester, out of date, 140 

Hoeing and thinning, 93 

Horse hoe, 91 

Interior sugar factory, ,30 

Lehi factory, 35, 57, 65, 67, 111 

Lime kilns, 47 



Location Nebraska factories, 56 

Los Alamitos factory, 37 

Louisiana sugar field, 18 

Louisiana sugarhouse, 5, 21, 26 

Map Eastern Nebraska, 50 

Mature beet, 103 

Menomonee Falls factory, 1, 115 

Mother beets, 32 

Nebraska sugar beets, 16, 75, 77, 103, 129 

Nebraska factories, 39, 49, 51, 53, 55 

Negro quarters, 25 

New Mexico factory, 59 

Nebraska silo, 113 

Norfolk factory, 39, 49, 51 

Oxnard, Henry T., 31 

Pecos Valley factory, 59 

Pecos Valley beet field, 72 

Pile of beets at Alvarado, 133- 

Plants, 87, 89 

Poor beets, 75, 77 

Puller, 105 

Ready for beet harvest, lOl 

Receiving beets at Alvarado, 109 

Seeder, 85, 87 

Shipping beets, 39 

Silos, 113, 117 

Sluiceway at Alvarado, 133 

Smoother for beet land, 123 

Storage sheds, m 

Storing beets in Wisconsin, 115 

Subsoil plows, 79, 83 

Typical sugar beet, 32 

Utah sugar factory, .30, 57, 63, 65, 67, 104 

Vacuum pan, 28 

Walking beet puller, 105 

Watsonville factory, 13 

Weeding beets, 95 

Wisconsin beet field, 81 

Wisconsin factory, 61 

Wisconsin silo, 117 



ANNOUNCEMENT. 



We learn from reliable sources that The Oxnard Su§:ar Construction and 
Development Company is to be incorporated, to devote itself to the developing- 
of the sugar growing and producing industry in this country. The officers of 
this Company will be:— 

HENRY T. OXNARD, President, 

JAMES G. HAMILTON, Vice President, 

W. BAYARD CUTTING, Treasurer 

S. D. Schenck, Secretary, 

WILHELM BAUR, Chief Executive Officer and Consulting Engineer. 

This Company will have its headquarters in West Virginia, and will 
commence business, if we are intormed correctly, in the early part of Nay, 
having a branch office in New York City, at 32 Nassau street. The aim ot the 
Company will be to assist in every way the development of the sugar industry 
in this country. It will establish various departments, such as an agricultural 
department, and a construction department. These departments will thoroughly 
investigate questions ot climate and soil and will give directions in growing 
beets, cane, etc., etc. Testing beets, water, soil and all supplies necessary for 
the process of sugar making, the investigations will be made by expert agricul- 
turists familiar with the raising of sugar plants in this country. The construc- 
tion department will propose to undertake the entire building of factories com- 
plete in every respect, and will be prepared to guarantee their capacity. This 
Company expects to be able to undertake the full equipment of a newly built 
factory with the necessary otficers and men, and run the factory, if desired, for 
the first year. 

It will be a headquarters of g-eneral information, and will invite consulta- 
tion on all questions concerning the industry. We congratulate our country, 
and especially our farmers, on the formation of such a Company, with such broad 
aims. Their work will be done only by men of high experience and responsi- 
bility. The industry of sugar producing is comparatively a new one in this 
country, and only a few people are familiar with it. Therefore it is one of the 
best features of the new Company, that they will not only furnish the necessary 
machinery, seed, etc., but also the experienced men who will assist in planting 
and producing the sugar. 

The names of the officers are a sulficient guarantee of the ability of the 
Company to do its work. Mr. Oxnard and his brothers have been successfully 
connected during their lives with the production and manufacture of sugar in 
this country. Mr. Hamilton has been Secretary of various sugar factories 
since they have been in existence. I*lr. Baur has been twenty years in the sugar 
business in this country, and is also very familiar with the business abroad* 
We wish this Company success, and with their success, our farmers' prosperity. 

HERBERT MYRICK. 



INDEX. 



Ability to procluce our own sugar, ; 8 

Actual experience of farmers , 122 

Address of state experiment stations, 128 

Adeline plantation, 26 

Advantasfes of industry, 1<() 

Alabama tests, 71 

Alameda sugar company, 43 

Aland tos factory, 88, .^0 

Allen, R. M 16.43, U2, 12« 

Alvarado, factory 32, 33, 36, 4:i 

American farmers' demand, 7 

American sugar growers' society, 14 

Amount of protection needed 10 

Area capable growing cane, 19 

Area of cane in Louisiana, 19 

Arkansas tests, ...71 

Austin, Geo., 96 

Bardin , Jas., 121, 125 

Battery of diffusion sells, ol 

Battle. H. B.,. ...-..., 71 

Bennett, Dir., 71 

Beet development in Europe, (j 

Beet development ill future, 38 

Beet industry in America, 31 

Beet pulp for milch cows, 109 

Beet seed, 114 

Beetseedei-, 8.') 

Beet sugar production in IT. S 38 

Beet tops and waste for beets, 110, 124 

Berthiervillf factory, 32 

Bixby land coniiiaiiy, bli 

Blackhawk, Wis, factory, 31 

Boiler room at Cliino 7 

Bone, William 99 

BonestiU & Otto, , 31 

liountie.s, state, 11 

Bounty, German, 11 

IJiancli factories 131 

ISnilding and equipping cane factory, 20 

Cattery plant, ; 5 

California development 43 

California factories: 

Alvarado factories 32 

Sacramento, 32 

Istleton 32 

Los Angeles 32 

Los Alain itos, 37, 50 

Salinas City, 38, 50 

Alaniitos, 38 

Chino, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 

Cane cultivator, 27 

Cane culture 22 

Cane stubble digger, 27 

Capacity of factory, 131 

Carbonation tank ... 30 

Carrying l)ei'ts to factory, 102 

CflNitioiis in industry ; 137 

ClKitswortb, 111., factory, 31 

Cbiiio beet factory 30, 36,42,44,45,46, 47,48 

Chliio beet growers' union, 48 

Clientele of siigarliouse,., '. 20 

Climatic conditions for beets 73 

Co-efflcieut of purity 38 

Colorado tests, 70 

Combined planter and cultivator, 84 

Commercial grades cauj sugar 1 

Conipetiticiii, jn-esent ana future 2 

<;()iiilietiti(iii, foreign, 2 

Compet ition, European, 8 

Constituency of organization, ^. 15 

Consumption increase in U. S., 4 

<;o-operative sugar factories, 135 

Cordez, H., 66, 71 

Cost cane machinery, 20 

€o.stof beet factory, 132 

Cost to farmers, 120, 121 

Covers diffusion battery, 69 

Cultivating beets, 90 

Culti vatin.g machine 29 

Cutler, Thomas R., 128 

Cutting sugar cane 18 

Cutworms, 113 

Day, E. M., 124 

Delaware factory,. . 32 

Delaware tests, 64 

Delver, 12.5 

Demand for beet seed, 114 

Dethlefseu Bros., 48 



Development of beet'ihdustry, 6 

Pevcldpiiicnt in America, 12 

Dit'i'pi' lii'i^' i)rocess in raising seed, 116 

Dittusidii l)attery 30, 51, 69 

Digestible elements in 100 lbs pomace, 108 

Directions for cane-sugar making, 24 

Drying beets, i07 

Duty on imported 11 

Dver, E. H. & Co., 50 

Dyer, E. F., 34 

Dyer, E. H 34 

Economic aspects, 1 

Economic crime, 1 

Eddy, N. M., factory, ■ 32, 36, 59, 60 

Emiiloyment to labor, 125 

Engine room at Lehi, 63, 65 

Evan Hall plantation, 21, 25 

Evajiorators 42 

Expenses and picitit.s, 136 

Ex|ieriineiit staiioiis, list of, 128 

Experiments \\ itii beet seed, 114 

Eailure (jf early attempts, 32 

Farmers mean Imsiness, 14 

Farnliam enteriirise,. 32 

Farwell, Chas. A 16,19 

Feeding and storing inUii, 108 

Feeding molasses , Ill 

Feeding sugar beets,... 80, 110, 124 

Feeding value pomace '. 108 

Field of beets, 72, 81 

Financiering sugar factory enterprise,. 130 

First trials, 12 

Filter presses, ; 30, 67 

Florida plant at imi, 23 

Franklin factory, 32 

Freeport, 111., factory, 81 

Fond du Luc, Wis., factorv, 31 

Fuel for factory,' ." 131 

Fuel u.'ied, 48 

Gang plow 79 

Gennert Bros., 31 

Georgia beets, . 71 

German liouiit\ 11 

Gird, Kicliani; 46 

Goessiiiaii, Prof. C. A., 34 

Good beets, •. 75, 77 

Grades centrifugal of sugar 28 

Grand Island factory, 36, 50, 53, 55 

Granger, Mr 98 

Greatest need of sugar industry 139 

Gustafsen Bros 48 

Hamilton, Jas. G., 41 

Hand planter for beets, 87 

Harvesting beets, 100, 102 

Harvesting cane, 24 

Harvesting machines, 102 

Henry Carev Baird & Co., 34 

Henry, Prof. W. A 33 

History cane industry, 19 

Hoeing and thinning beets, 94 

Houston, H. A; 66 

How beet sugar is made, 40 

How to get a factory, 127 

Idaho tests 70 

Illinois factories: 

Chatsworth, 31 

Freeport, 31 

Illinois tests 66 

Imports into U. S 2, 4 

Imports, recent, 2 

Imports, quantities and values '96, 2 

Imports from Europe, 2, 4 

Imports from south, 2 

Imports from Orient, 2 

Imports from West Indies, 4 

Imports from South America, 4 

Imports, where from, 4 

Imports,from Oceanica, -4 

Improvements in manufacture, 131 

Indian territory tests, 'J4 

Indiana tests 66 

Industry employs and pays labor, 125 

Insect pests US 

Interior Norfolk factory 51 

Iowa tests &; 

Irrigation 96,123 

Istleton factory 32 

Isothermal line 73 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 147 



E. H. DYER. EDWARD F. DYER, Mgr. H. P, DYER, Sup't. 

€. B. Dyer ^ Co., 



BUILDERS OF 



SUGAR MACHINERY. 

Building and Operating:^^.^^^ 

COnPLETE BEET SUGAR PLANTS 

^ k Specialty. 
General Office and Works, 

COR. LAKE AND KIRTLAND STS., 

CLEVELAND, O. 

During the past 25 years the above concern has been successfully engaged in the manu- 
facture of beet sugar and designing and constructing beet sugar machinery and factories. 
We build all our machinery in America and have built the following American Beet Sugar 
Factories: The Standard Sugar Refinery, Alvarado, Cal., The Utah Sugar Co., Lehi, Utah, 
Los Alamitos Sugar Co., Los Alamitos, Cal., to whom we refer. 

"Mr. E. F. Dyer erected our beet sugar factory and operated it two seasons. He is 
thoroughly competent to not only build, but to operate any beet sugar factory and is the 
only man that I have met with in the United States who is positively thorough in every 
detail connected with the industry." THOMAS R. CUTLER. 

"In completeness of detail, arrangement and economy of labor, our factory is very far 
ahead of any that I have ever seen, and I have had the good fortune to visit every factory 
in the L^nited States (except those in course of construction) and quite a number in both 
France and Germany. When it comes to the question of machinery, there is really no 
comparison to be made between American and foreign made, and as to the arrangement, 
etc., it is sufficient to state that we require from one-third to one-half less men to accom- 
plish the same work than is required in a foreign factor}' of this capacity." 

C. A. GRANGER, 

Supt. Lehi Sugar Co. 



148 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Jaffa, Prof., 109 

JohiLsoii, J. W 126 

Kansas tests, 64 

Kulscy , Ml ., H6 

Kt'iitucky tests, 71 

Korn, K. G., 60 

LatUI, E, K 66 

Laphaui, O. K., 36, 70 

Leaves of beet, H4 

Lehl factory 36, 54,57,58,60,63,65, 67, 104, 111 

Lids diffusion batteries, 69 

Lime Iciliis, 47 

Lime rock for factory 131 

Limestone used, 48 

Locatini; a factory 130 

Location Neb. factory, 56 

Los Alain! lo'i factory, 37 

Los Aniieles factory, 32 

Louisiana beet tests, 71 

Louisiana cane area, 19 

Louisiana su.;arliouse, — 5, 21. 26 

Ly on , Prof 86 

Maine factory, Portland, 32 

Management sugar factories 134 

Manufacture of beet, 41, .58 

Manufacture of cane 26 

Map Kastiun Nebraska 56 

Maryland tests : 64 

Massachusetts factory, Franklin 32 

Mem >iiee Falls factory 36, 60, 61 

Micliiuati tests 66 

Minnesota tests, 66 

Mississippi tests, 71 

Mis.souri tests 64 

Moisture for beet, 73 

Molasses re.sidue, 110 

Montana tests, 70 

Moore. Ceo, ('. 124 

Morniw, Director 64 

My rick, Herbert, 16 

Nebraska Keet Growers' Association 52 

Nebraska factories: ^ 

Norfolk, 39,47,51 

Grand Lsland 50, 53, ,55 

Nebraska record, 54 

Nebraska sugar beets 16, 75, 77 

Negro ([uarters 25 

New .1 ersev factory, 32 

New .lersey tests 64 

New Mexico factory 32,36 

Eddy 59,60 

New York tactories: 

Rome, 32 

N. Y. lieet Sugar Co., 38 

New York tests, 62 

Mcliol.son, H. H .54, 114 

North Dakota, 66 

Norfolk factory 36,39, 47, 51 

North Carolina tests 71 

Objects sugar society 14 

01)stacles American industry, 8 

Obstacles cane industry, 20 

t»t1icers' organization, 16 

Ohio tests 64 

Oklalioma tests 64 

Opening for capital, 136 

Open-kettle |irocess, 28 

Oregon tests, TO 

Oxnard , I leinv T. 31, 34, 36 

Oxnard, .James G., 34 

Oxnard plant, 47, 51, 53 

Peckham, Mr 6 

Pecos Valley factory, 59 

Pecos Valley Sugar (Jo., 60 

Pecos Valley beet field 72 

Peculiarity cane crop, 20 

Pennsylvania tests 64 

Per cent of sugar, 38 

Pests of the beet, 112 

Pettlnger Kn.s 122 

Plan of society's work, 15 

Planting cane, 22 

Plant food removecf. 80 

Plowing for beets, 82 

Poor beets, 75, 77 

Portland factory, 32 

Preparation cane soil, 22 

Price for beets 44, 126 

Produced in U. S., 4 

Progress of science In sugar extraction, 134 

Protection needed 10 

f^rolection will not increase price, 11 

Q\ialil\ and urade cane product 27 

Qnalitv heel sugar, 39 

Qu.'l>ic factories: 

Ml ilhiei ville 32 

Far 1 1 ham ...32 

Kailroad comi)etliiou uecessary, 130 



Rates of duty 11 

Recent develoiunent beet industry 36 

Record development, beet industry, 36 

Record in Nebraska, .' 54 

Results at Chhio, 48 

Results in Ulali, 58 

Rice, N. S., 125 

Rightniler, W. C 125 

Risk to capital, 8 

Roberts, Prof. LP., 64 

Rome, N. Y., factory, 32 

Root of beet, 94 

Rotation of crops for cane, 24 

Rotation foi beets, 7 

Rules to se<nre best seed, 118 

Staunton factory 36, 70 

Steffins process, 47. 131 

Storage sheds, 104 

Storing beets 103 

Subsoiling 84 

Subsoil iduws 79, 83 

Snuar and monetary problem 7 

Supply, total, 4 

Stubbs, Prof. W. C. 17,71 

Sacramento lactory, 32 

Salinas City factory 38, 50 

Sandwich Island injustice, 3 

Scovell, M. A,, 71 

Sectional view of factory, 37 

Section of beet, 76 

Seeder 85,87 

Seeding beets, 88 

Seed production in United States 114 

Seed required per acre, 114 

Shamel, C. A,, 86 

Shaw. Prof. G. \V. 90 

Shephard, J. H 64 

Slii|)ping beets, 39 

Siloing beets 102,105,106, 113, 115 

Size of beet, 76 

Snow, U. W., 16 

Snyder, Prof. Henry, 66 

Soil for beets, 78 

Soil for cane, 22 

Sorglnim 14 

South Carolma, "1 

South Dakota : 64 

Spacing beets 94 

Specific duty 10 

Spreckels, Clans, 36, 43, 50 

State bounties, 11, .50 

State experiment station, 128 

Starting cane industry -4 

Statement, Jas. Bardin 121 

Tariff of 1883, 10 

Taylor, Sam'l 98 

Technical terms explained 38 

Teimessee tests, 71 

Texas tests, 71 

Thimiing beets ■• 92 

Time necessary, 8 

Trade in U. S.,... 6 

Trouble in cane industry, 20 

Tyidcal beet, 32 

Utah results 36, .58 

Utah sugar factor" , 35, 54, 57, 58, 60, 63, 65, 67, 111 

Utilizing old buildings, 138 

Vacuum pan, 71 

Vanderford, Sec, •• l] 

Varieties beet ^^' 'A 

Varieties cane, 19 

Vainer, Peter, 12* 

Virginia experiences 71 

Virginia factories: 

Staunton • • • • • • '? 

Ware, Lewis S 34,91,103,110 

Washington tests, lO 

Waters, Prof f> 

AVater sluiceway at Alvarado, 133 

Wat.son v ille factory, 13, 43 

AVater supply for factory, 131 

Weeding beets, J/ 

West Virginia tests, 'j 

What is needed, '0 

Where and how tostart a factory, •• '30 

Wietzer. Mr 98, K 6 

Wiley, H. \V 34 

AVill IT, S, iiroiluce its sugar J 

Wilson, Prof .laines, <;,• • ,^ 

Wisconsin beet field 81,115 

Wisconsin factories: 

Fond du Lac 32 

P.lack Hawk ••■•• ^\ 

M.iionionee Falls 36,60,61 

Woodhonse. Morgan "' 

World's production, 3 

Wyoming tests, '" 



ADVLiiTISE-MENTS. 



149 



TBE KILBY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 



FOUNDERS 




AND 




MACHINISTS, 



CLKVELAND, OHIO, 



NEW YORK OFFICE, 
144 Times Building... 




BUILDERS OF 

Complete Machinery for Beet, Cane and Glucose 
Sugarhouses and Refineries* 



150 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 




The Jarecki 



VAKE ERIE 



I'SHGUANft 

p MARK. '^^ 

J ANALYSIS: 

.RvailaWe Phos Acii-JO'lJ /«>. 

t^monia. ..„ 2 3^^, 

IfotasL. .:::::: j j^ ^ 

.c^. MANUFAirmRED BY ^ 

@1E JARECKI CHEMICAL CO- 



Chemical Co., 



SANDUSKY, OHIO. 



Hanufacturers 



FISH riANURES. 



■.^_SANi;)USKX,^P 



Illustrated Pamphlet on Application. 



'7T 



OUR OFFER. 



THE nature of our business brings us in close touch with a large number of 
farmers, and consequentl}' we fully realize that the condition of agricul- 
ture in this country at present is certainly not in as prosperous a condition 
as it might be, owing largely to the overproduction of our present staple 
crops, and it is our belief that the cultivation of the sugar beet would bring 
vast and permanent relief to this condition. The farmers' prosperity is our 
prosperity, and we therefore desire to do something which will aid to make a 
beginning in the sugar industr}-. For this purpose we will furnish you, free of 
charge, the best imported sugar beet seed, sufficient for one-fourth acre experi- 
mental patch, and will make a chemical analysis, without cost, of samples of 
the beets grown to determine the percentage of sugar, and thus enable 5'ou at 
practically no expense to determine your ability to grow this most profitable 
product. The beets grown in the experiments will make an excellent and 
valuable food for milch cows and other stock. The experiments would of 
course show what localities are best adapted for the location of factories, and 
after results are known we will present the facts to capitalists, and use our best 
endeavors to secure the erection of adequate works within easy access to such 
sections as have shown their ability and desire to grow the necessary beets. 

To make the above offer without reser\'e would of course be too great an 
undertaking for us to venture. We therefore limit the same to such persons 
as are customers for our fertilizers, or have been at any time within the past 
two years, dating back from June i, 1897, no matter if your purchase was only 
one-half ton. Applicants for seed would therefore be required to have their 
application endorsed by our local agent from whom the fertilizer was purchased, 
unless purchased direct from us. 

Trusting that all our old, as well as man}- new, customers will take advan- 
tage of this opportunity, we are. Yours for prosperity, • ' ' • ' 

THE JARECKI CHEMICAL CO., 



ADVEKTISEMENTS. 151 



K. SALICH, 



-Civil Engineer 



and Superintendent o? Construction of Sugar Factories, 

and Contractor for the Constructiop and Equipment y^ 

of Sugar Factories. ... 

HERDQUflRTEl^S, GHlCRGO, Ihli. 

Out of the seven beet sugar factories iu operation in the United States 
during the campaign of 1896-7, Mr. Salich has built and equipped three: 

The Oxnard Beet Sugar Go's, factory at Grand Island, Neb. 

The Norfolk Beet Sugar Go's, factory at Norfolk, Neb. 

The Pecos Valley Go's, factory at Eddy, New Mexico. 

^) COHRHSPONDEJSICE H^VlTED. #- 



''Kldnwanzleben Originar' 



GROWN ir[ 

GERMANY. 



Sugar Beet Seed. 



SOLD WITH A GUARAN- THE MOST RELIABLE SUGAR 

TEED GERMINATION. address BEET SEED IN THE MARKET. 



^ MEYER & RAAPKE, 






IMPORT SINCE 1892 ^ U. S. and Canada Agents, 

955,000 POUNDS. OIVIAHA, NEB. 



15;^ ADVEKTISEMENTS. 



READING IRON COMPANY, 




MANUFACTURERS OF 



Sugar Mill Machinery, 

ENGINES AND BOILERS, 

Cotton Compresses, Machinery in General, 

Wrought=Iron Pipe and Boiler Tubes, 

Pig Iron, Boiler Plate, Forcings of every description. 



CORBESPONDENCE INVITED. 



PAYNE & JOUBERT, New Orleans Representatives, 

423 Carondelet St., New Orleans. 



ADVEKTISEM ENTS. 



153 



ALBERT W. WALBURN, 

President and Treasurer. 



MAGNUS SWENSON, 

Secretary and Manager. 



WALBURN -SWENSON CO.. 

Engineers, Founders and Machinists. 




BUILDERS OF THE MOST IMPROVED 




ar Machinery, 



COMPLETE BEET SUGAR PLANTS and 
CENTRAL FACTORIES A SPECIALTY. 



WORKS, 
Chicago Heights. 



CENTRAL OFFICE, 
944 Monad nock Block, Chicago. 



154 ADVERTISED Els TS. 



1840. HIGHEST AWARD I876-I897. 



American Machinery 
^ FOR American Plants. 

AMERICAN BEET SUGAR MACHINERY. 

Every Mechanical Part of a Plant For Making: 
Sugar From Beet Roots. 




Maue here in the United States and gruaranteed as 
good as any tliat can be made or used for the business. 

50 YEARS OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN 
DEVELOPMENT OF SUGAR MACHINERY. 

Have furnished all machinery for all early Beet 
Plants at Portland, Farnham and Wilmington, and for 
Experiment at Washington, D. C, for Department of 
Agriculture, and at Government Station at Magnolia, 
Louisiana. 



INSTALLED ON ALL OF THE BEST PLANTATIONS 


IN LOUISIANA. 


IN CUBA. 


IN CUBA. 


Oxnard Sprague, 


Hormigfoero, 


Occitania, 


Caffeny Central, 


Pttrio, 


Andrieta, 


A. C. Minor, 


Constancia, 


Armenia, 


Hon. T. S. "Wilkinson, 


Regular, 


Caracas, 


Hon. H. C. Warmouth, 


Porlugalette, 


Senado, 


McCall Bros., 


Teresa, 


Flora de Cuba< 



Also Brazil, Peru, Sandwich Islands, and every Sugar-Producing Country in 
the world, and all refineries in the United States, and 

Many Plants and Different Apparatus Which are Placed Through 
Resident Agents or Commission Houses. 



A. W. COLWELL, 39 Cortlandt Street, New York City. 



ADVEIiTISEMEXTS. 



155 



Beet Mactiinery of Any Description 

FROM FOUNDATION BOLTS TO CHIMNEY CAPS. 



R. R. Buildings, Elevators, Washers, Cutters, Diffusion 
Batteries, Carbonation Tanks and Systems, Filter 
Presses, Triple Effect, Vacuum Pans, Pumps, Cen- 
trifugals, Piping and Boilers. All Parts of a 
Plant in all Details. 

Plant Complete, or in Parts, Designed. Erected and Operated at Lowest Prices, 
Consistent with Good Workmanship, and Guaranteed in all Particulars. 




SUGARHOUSE ON CONSTANCIA PLANTATION AT EUCRUSHADA, CUBA. 

In this plant, Mr. Colwell took out some French machinery and replaced it with his own. and remodeled the 
vacuum pan and triple effect so that the pan would boil in '.'.i per cent of the time that it did before the change. Mr. 
Colwell also built on the same plantation the largest pumpins engine on the island. The above is a picture of only one 
of the many plantations for which Mr. Colwell has furnished vast amounts of machinery. 



A. W. COLWELL, 

Consulting and Contracting Engineer 

For All Matters Pertaining: to Beet Machinery. 



DRAWINGS AND ESTIMATE FURNISHED. CORRESPONDENCE SOLICITED. 



ADDRESS: 39 Cortlandt St., New York City. 



156 ADVERTISEMENTS. 



SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEET SUGAR ENTERPRISE 

ON THE 

LOS ALAMITOS RANG HO, 

THE HOME OF THE SUGAR BEET. 



THE BIXBY LAND COMPANY, 

OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, 

6000 acres of choice sugar beet land and 540 lots in the new town of "LOS 
ALAMITOS", where a BEET SUGAR FACTORY, with a capacity of 700 
tons of beets per day, is now being erected at a cost of about 1600,000, which will 
be completed about June 15th, in time to work up this year's crop of beets. 



A Few Facts Concerning the Lands, Townsite 
and Sugar Factory. 

LOCATION — The tract is part in the southern portion of Los Angeles County, part in the 
western portion of Orange County, is distant 20 miles from the City of Los Angeles, 
14 miles from Santa Ana, the county seat Orange County, 9 miles from Anaheim and 
Long Beach, a summer resort, 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean. 

SOIL — Tlie soil is a rich, deep, moist, alluvial loam, perfectly adapted to the cultivation of 
a great variety of products Avithout irrigation, most important among which is the 
sugar beet, which grows rich and luxuriant. 

CLIMATE — The climate is mild and invigorating, and owing to the close vicinity of the 
ocean, is cooler in summer and warmer in winter than locations further inland, being 
an ideal site for all-year-round homes (the thermometer seldom falls below 35° and 
rarely exceeds 80°). 

WATER — The water for the land and town is obtained from flowing artesian wells, irri- 
gation is, however, not needed here, fruits, grain, and sugar beets requiring no water 
after being planted, as the subsoil is sufficiently moist to feed the plants. 

RAINFALL — The rainy season is from December to April, during which season all the 
rain of the year falls ; there are no long storms, the rain coming in short showers and 
often at night. Most of the days during the winter are warm, sunny and bright. 
The average rainfall is about 20 inches. 

SCHOOLS — Arrangements are being made now to build and open schools on the tract, 
and also in the town of Los Alamitos before the fall term of 1897. 

TAXES — State and county taxes amount to about 80 cents per acre each year. 

TITLE— The title to the land is perfect, and with each conveyance is given a contract to 
raise sugar beets for the Los Alamitos sugar factory. 

PRICE AND TERMS— The price of these lands is from |150 per acre up, according 
to location. The regular terms are one-fourth cash, the balance on or before one, two 
or three years, with interest at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum on deferred payments. 
Tracts can be secured in areas from 5 acres upwards. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



157 



A FEW FACTS 

And results by some of our farmers who have raised sugar beets in the district and shipped 
them under contract to tlie Cliino factory, 70 miles distant from the Los Alamitos, show 
conclusively that the raising of sugar beets is the most remunerative and paying crop for 
the intelligent and industrious farmer, where in hve months from the time of planting he 
is paid for his crop at prices contracted for before planting, and that three to four crops will 
pay for the land which is being sold at one-half tiie price of what similar lands bring in 
France and Germany, where the beets are not as rich in sugar by 4 to 6 per cent. 



RESUl 


JS OF SUGAR BEETS RAISED IN THIS DISTRICT. 






Acres 
Planted 


Total 
Tonnage 


Tons 
per Acre 


Sugar in 
Beets 


Amount 
Received 


Amount 
per Acre 


Expense per 
Acre 


Profit per 
Acre 


H. H. Bartlett 

S. S. Ball 


2 

u 

8 
40 
25 
20 

9 


25 

71 
110 
720 
428 
343 
223 


m 

15f 
13| 

18 
17 

17^ 
24| 


20 
18 
20 
16 
16 
17 
18 


$131.25 
385.96 
660.81 
2851.22 
1829.12 
1800.72 
1208.25 


165.63 
71.35 
70.00 
71.25 
73.16 
90.00 

134.25 


114.41 
12.48 
13.64 
15.41 
15.53 
25.98 


$56.94 
57.52 
57.61 
57.75 
76.42 

118.27 


E. A. Sparks 

I. J. Jones 

J. W.J. Culton.... 
V. Gustavson . ... 
G. W. Gamer. . . 



A conservative average tonnage per acre on our lands is 15 and the average sugar in the 
beets 16 per cent. The j rice paid for beets by tlie company is $3.25 for 12 per cent, beets 
and 25c per ton for each 1 per cent, of sugar additional, thus the average price per ton of 
beets would be $4.25 per ton. 

At 15 tons per acre $63.75 

Cost of production per acre 20.00 

Net per acre at these conservative figures $43.75 

THE TOWNSITE. 

In about the center of the tract is located the new town of Los Alamitos, laid out 
October, 1896, and the Los Alamitos sugar factory, now nearing completion, which wil] 
work up during this year's campaign 40,000 tons of sugar beets and 80,000 tons annually 
thereafter, for which, including help and other materials used in tlie manufacture of sugar, 
the factory will expend each year from $550,000 to $600,000. 

The average size of lots in the townsite is 50 x 150 feet. 

All the streets are 80 feet wide, the sidewalks 12 feet, the alleys 15 feet. 

The purest of artesian water under good pressure is piped in the alley of each lot. 

PRICES of town lots range from $75 to $550, according to location. The regular 
terms are one-third cash, the balance on or before one and two years, with interest at the 
rate of 8 per cent, per annum on deferred payments. 

The government harbor and Southern California's seaport, San Pedro, is but 14 miles 
distant, and the Southern Pacific Railway, which has built a $5000 depot at Los Alamitos, 
its present terminus, will connect with San Pedro. 

These lands and lots are in the hands of first owners, who are not holding for speculative 
purposes, but are desirous of having them improved and sugar beets raised on the lands. 

Unsold lands are leased to actual prospective buyers at a low rental or upon shares. 

Correspondence from those desiring to buv or rent land for the most profitable crop 
"Swg-ar Beet Culture," or buy lots in the new and promising town of Los Alamitos, is 
solicited, and will receive prompt and careful attention. Address 

BIXBY LAND COMPANY, 



FRANK J. CAPITAIN, 
Secretary. 



310=12 BYRNE BUILDING, 

Los Angeles, California. 



158 ADVERTISEMENTS. 



The " Sugar Bowl" of the Great Southwest 



-IS THE- 



RICH VALLEY OF THE RIO PECOS 

IN THE 

COUNTIES OF EDDY AND CHAVES 



-OF- 



-^NEW MEXICO.^ 



The seventh Beet Sugar factory in the United 
States was erected at Eddy^ New Mexico^ in J 896^ 
and made its first ^^ Campaign ^^ beginning Nov* 
15, 1896, and closing Feb. 15, 1897. 

The content of ^^ Sugar in the beet^^ of the crop 
grown in the Eddy and Roswell sections of the valley 
has proven to be more uniformly high than in any 
other part of the United States. 

124 separate analyses, chiefly car load lots, 
showed an average of 17.01 per cent, sugar in 
beet; 84.1 per cent, purity. 

This remarkable result was accomplished by raw 
farmers unacquainted with the culture of beet root, 
on new land and under very trying circumstances, 
as the factory was not assured until May, and a 
majority of the acreage was planted between June 
1st and August 10th. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 159 



Forht7iately, the land is blessed with just 
the fertility to produce high grade beets,and. 

More forhmately^ the Pecos Irrigation and 
Improvement Co. and the Roswell Land 
and Water Co. have an irrigation system of 
great magnitude, covering a vast body of 
the best sugar beet lands on earth. The 
water is applied to the crop when needed. 
The sun shines more hours in the day and 
more days in the year in Eddy and Chaves 
Counties, New Mexico, than in any other 
section of the West. 

GOOD SOIL makes the seed germinate. 
WATER makes the plant grow. 
SUNLIGHT puts the sugar in the beet. 

The only thing left to be desired that the 
Pecos Valley has not on hand in abundance 
is PEOPLE; we need thrifty farmers— 500 
heads of families each on a 40-acre farm. 
No fairer terms or conditions were ever 
made. Write for particulars. 



J. J. HAGERMAN, Pres. 

E. 0. FAULKNER, Vice Pres. 



The Pecos Irri§:ation and Improvement Co., 
Eddy, New Mexico, or 

The Roswell Land and Water Co., 
Roswell, New Mexico. 



160 ADVERTISEMENTS. 



George M. Newliell [ngineofing Co., Ltd., 

DESIGNERS and ENGINEERS 



-FOR- 



Complete Sugar Refineries 
^ AN>> Plantation Outfits. 



BUILDINGS, MACHINERY 
AND APPARATUS. 



Designers and Engineers of the McCahan Sugar Refinery of 
Philadelphia — The National Sugar Refinery of Yonkers, N. Y. — 
Engineers for the installation of all machinery and apparatus in The 
United States Sugar Refinery, Camden, N. J., and now building com- 
plete the Arbuckle Sugar Refinery of Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Sole Agents in the United States for M. Weinrich^s Bone Black 
Decarbonizing and Revivifying Process and Apparatus — Newhall 
Granulator and other sugar-making specialties. 



ADDRESS 



George M. Newhall Engineering Co., Ltd., 

136 South Fourth Street, - PHILADELPHIA. U. S. A. 



